




j'.'. M 













V., 


I 



Class 


TZi 


Gopightll?.. 


CDEffilGilT DEPOSm 


. * 


0 






'xf -1 


55 


• I 


Pr- 






‘fc 




■< 


l%:4i' 




I'K* 




}X 








>v 


>• X ‘j:*' ^ 

t -v ■ •. I,. :r*X 






;. % 

m 


i. ■ ‘ ^ 

^ :• . . '' . ; 






:'ic 


. • . . 






•r^t. 




.!<• 


V 7 l.fc, -I 

•-*•>' * 

;• '4.^' ' 


:a' 


7* 

• *. ■■ . ' ' '.71 


‘I f ,*'1 


li-/ 


T» ■' 


-J0 

A. ."V 


;4 


' i .* • 


• ' I* 


■m 


-/ > 








•in itm: 


»-e\. jt 


y' 


t ^ ci 


I • 


{ ' 


» ■ • 


'» 


i: 


K 


TV 


aV 






♦-iJ 


y< 




W>-’‘ 


•il •* •> • . 


y*. 


•^i-0,. ■’ 

r ,>. • 

.•■U: ?■■••■ 


m' *• 


># 


■f i 




.i f 


iM ">• 


M 


V. 


- ^ ■TW ' ■* -" y" * 

.1 i «■ 


Jff 


■» f* 


T t 

• 


o -• 

«■ 


• r-‘ 




r 1 

' 





' !->' ' . !■• 4 * 


■-.» 


I 


V: 'M, 


I ,%. 


f 


u> 


► '■> 






M. ■ 


y/* 


yi. ■;* c', 


. '• V 






( 


■r<\ 


Vk» 






4't: 


a 






t ..»7 


7 

^ ‘1.7 • ^pVi 


iy 

h’WV-. ‘. ui>»’,'i''t ’ ' SSWf'.M 

* SK-. ::m A:, ’v .: ■ v;:"'a 


frJ 




>V 7 ' 




c&'3 








rtr, 


4 »r 








- ■*. •'Ji 


«« 


i: . lu 


?s 


*>¥ 


Vi » 3 




fl 


n 


f 




i\’« 




tT 






'|7.' 


t 




J'S'.’ 


5^5 


>■ 




v;**i 


Mi' 


- ? V * 

-W, >1 




U-: 


;? 


* 


-I 






Jl 






i.ji 


i( 7 !i 






K'fwi 


M 


u» 




■>>?£' 


>/ k.* 


i 


ri 








•Tv 






rr 


/»i 


•* i " a’ ■ 

■A. • “■•' ■^- ’ 


fe 


V.*. 




I A 


,lff: 




I 


/• 


'.•> I 


,v^ 


I .*.’• 


♦ .- 


*v ^ 


Ivi^ 


I* A 


jr 


r*-: 




^f^^ 


^ i,* 


'-y • ^ 


>k- 







r' < , 


> ) 




v.s 






* %• 


»ix 




4..’l 


.v\»' 7 . : ’, 1 V . ^ ‘ V ,. .; 

uV-' "> '■■•■' . v'*-- •*'< 

v/f vV.,.; I .*V;^’-- 

LV.V.vfi”' . ■ '• ■.. flKV',',,^ 




• <1 


^ '^* t, , * /l« .« 


p 


S V fr V •' 

III. .. . • I V 






• « 



- .tv f > i 




•f 




U!. j-7 . y . • 

'*' V >i iJKT 

',' V Jy'iii’.' f ' . ■• .■•, \ 


V 


.“ in " 




I#)" 


/ 


■t. 


V'. 









I 


Wonderdays and Wonderways 
Through Flowerland 




■; -» /»r\^ ■ .. v_: 'i'A- - f,*. / 

rv'i -V». ' 

■■■ ■ . V ’,(•'. :: 


r ' 


tA :'.: -:-^^5 ; 

tv*-*'' ',: V. ^ t 


.’^ ';v'. ^ 



E*’^ .. . ■.' • ■^liS.- >:.■■ '\W r^,'-r V^« . •.;r’i,.- ' -'.iV ' ' 


•f 




. « * 

-/ i 







i . 


. A 


1 


F iS » .» • • •« «' 


; ^ 





/. 




',f 


V 




. ■ .**v; ‘ f» 


>j4VAv' ■*W..' '-'U , ■ 

.^^■'■ ■■ '■^v-.;‘ :;'l: 


* i 


_••- ■'^it.^'' ' h'r/' •, , ' ' , '. ' • ‘ 


I 


. i •v ■ 

\ . 


r- 

r ' 


.• ^ » . • » 

**"■■ - /:.>'," V, s' •■ . 







^ ■ y \ 


V ^ 


t \ 




S' 


:■ ‘ 


y 

^l^.T 




-*•. ^ 


K • * , 

■• ■-!'•■' V, <n 



.• ». •* 

y . . . *> 


’ <. 


V - ^ ,•' I ’ i V 

• > '♦-*• -* i« 2 W 

. v',.V 


•V'T.' 


y r- ' 

•*■• >» <>i. vCA 




. • Ir 


.. 'S 


V 

« 

1' 


t s 

t 


V 





. '» 


- V' 1 , V ■'■ '■ ' H 





1 hey finally managed to reach the chamber wherein was the basin 
of which she had sjroken with such delight. 


^Vonderdays and Wonderways 
Through Flowerland 

A SUMMER ADVENTURE 
OF ONCE UPON A TIME 


BY 

GRACE TABOR 

Author of The Garden Prifner^ ** 
Old Fashioned Gardening,” etc. 


ILLUSTRATED BY 
RHODA CAMPBELL CHASE 


NEW YORK 

ROBERT M. McBRIDE & COMPANY 
1916 


Copyright, 1916, by 
Grace Tabor 


Published Optdber, 1916 



DEC -I iy'6 


©CI.A453063 

I ^ 




CONTENTS 

CHAPTER page 

I The Spell of the Bubble i 

Introductory. 

II Bad Earth and Good and the Little Prisoners of 

Hope 24 

Seeds and Sowing. 

III Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks .... 54 

Fertilizing. 

IV Outlaws and Overlords 79 

Pruning. 

V The Roystering Buccaneers iio 

Pests. 

VI A Dim Knight of Darkness and the Silver 

Tongues of Day 138 

Allies of the Gardener. 

VH The Caskets of Enchantment 165 

Bulbs. 

VIII The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust . . 187 

Pollination and Fruiting. 

IX A Far Land and the Going Hence 217 

Winter Care. 

X Through the Rainbow 239 

Conclusion. 

A Glossary of Names 263 

Lists of Plants for Children’s Gardens . . . 265 



I 


List of Illustrations 

They finally managed to reach the chamber wherein was 
the basin of which she had spoken with such delight 

Frontispiece 

FACING 

PAGE 

Into the air he soared and away over the meadows and 
roads and woods . . . and then they came on such a 
funny pair 112 

'‘Well/’ said Sir Bufo, blinking, “it’s hardly that, my 
dear — hardly that.” 


148 


/ 



Wonderdays and Wonderways 
Through Flowerland 


T / 


f} - 

I • /, ' 

,» 

“ • * 

•* 



* . ' ■ I 


I 




. \ 
) 




t 


i 

\ 


V 




t 





I 






/ 




f , 

/ •• 



Wonderdays and Wonderways 
Through Flowerland 



D own, down, down, for the longest distance, 
they felt themselves slipping — or was it in that 
they were rushing? They could not be sure whether 
it was down, or in — for you see, they hardly knew the 
journey had begun, before it was over. 

This was partly because they were so absorbed in 
watching the soap-bubble Billy had just blown — a beau- 
tiful one, and quite the largest they had ever seen. It 
I 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

floated nearer and nearer to them, until at last they could 
see quite plainly the lovely miniature world reflected in 
it. And Betty said ‘'Oh ! Don’t you wish we could go 
right up into it, Billy?” as she always did when she 
looked at a bubble. 

For a minute — or perhaps only a second or two really 
— it seemed as if they were actually going to get her 
wish; for the bubble kept coming closer still. But right 
there and then their strange journey began; and before 
they could collect themselves to notice which way they 
were traveling, they came to a gentle stop. So they did 
not know then — and indeed never found out — ^whether 
it had been down or in. It had seemed like down; but 
then too, it had seemed like in. 

“Why, where are we?” said Betty, as she looked all 
around when they stopped, and saw nothing that she 
had ever seen before in her life — or so she thought at 
that instant. “Where is this place, do you suppose, 
Billy? Isn’t it queer?” 

She still had hold of her brother’s arm, just as she 
had clutched it with a squeal of delight when the bubble 
first came back from high up in the summer air where 
they thought it quite lost. And ’Patkin, the great deer- 
hound, who came every day to play with them, was right 
there close beside them, just where he had stood, 
watching it too. But not another thing was the same ! 


2 


The Spell of the Bubble 

Instead of being under the old apple tree beside the 
garden, which was their favorite play spot, and where 
they had come to-day to watch Alec, the gardener’s 
helper, they were in a forest ! What is more, it was a 
forest stranger than any they had ever heard about, or 
read about, or dreamed of — a tangled, thick forest, all 
of just one kind of tree; and that was the queerest tree 
surely, that ever mortal saw — for it had no branches 
nor leaves whatsoever ! It was all green trunk, long and 
straight and tapering. Many were broken over, some 
high up, others low down, resting this way or that. 
But more than they could ever hope to count stood up- 
right, fresh and strong. 

Nowhere in sight, either, was Billy’s chair, from 
which he always climbed down after Betty had wheeled 
him out in it. Yet it had stood right there, just behind 
them. Strangest of all, though! — the buildings of the 
Orphanage had disappeared, too — every one! 

Betty took all this in with just one glance around, 
for that was her way — quick and keen and watchful. 
Then she clutched her brother’s arm a little more tightly 
than before, partly because she was so surprised and 
startled herself, and partly because it was another of 
her ways to look after Billy and keep things from fright- 
ening him. Billy was younger than she was, for one 
thing; and then you see, Billy was lame. So of course 
3 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

an older sister would always have been careful for him 
— and Betty was even more careful than ever, since they 
had come to live with so many, many other children in 
the big building that was their part of the Orphanage. 

Slowly Billy’s big brown eyes took in all that Betty’s 
blue ones had discovered in a twinkling, growing wider 
and rounder with surprise every minute. Then he sud- 
denly held up his hand with something in it, and looked 
at it; and Betty looked too. It was Alec’s pipe, that had 
blown the wonderful bubble, — the bubble which floated 
lightly away and then came back to settle over their 
heads. 

^'Oh,” she said, ''what will Alec say? He’ll be back 
any minute.” 

They both looked around, in the direction Alec had 
gone ; but on every side now there was the strange for- 
est, through which they could not see. It was very 
queer — and very scary, too. There was no use deny- 
ing that. Betty put her other hand upon the dog’s col- 
lar, and clung to it tightly. 

"I wonder what became of the pail,” said Billy, slowly, 
as he looked over their surroundings once more. "Did 
Alec take it?” 

Sure enough, that was gone, too — the pail with the 
soap-suds in it, which Alec used to wash the flowers’ 
faces; or so he said. They always knew, of course, 
4 


The Spell of the Bubble 

that he did not mean just exactly some of the things 
which he said, for he was full of such impossible talk. 
It was fun to hear it, though, so they played about near 
him whenever they could, to listen. And nearly always 
he would give them his pipe to blow bubbles — that is, 
if he had come to wash faces. Sometimes he came to 
put on what he called freckle lotion; and that meant 
that it was not soap-suds in the pail that day, but some- 
thing that did not smell a bit good — and they could have 
no bubbles. 

They had not moved out of their tracks since this curi- 
ous thing had happened to them ; but now Betty took a 
step or two forward, to peer around the trunk of a par- 
ticularly big tree that was just beside her. And then 
she drew back quickly with a frightened ‘^Oh, good- 
ness T' And Tatkin, seeing what she saw, stiffened 
and growled, and the hair all along his neck raised 
angrily. 

‘'Oh, Billy r she said to her brother, “don't — don't 
you b-b-be frightened!" Her own teeth were chatter- 
ing with terror, and she could hardly keep from running 
away — but of course Billy must not know that. “Don't 
mind him, Billy. It — it's just an awful looking kind of 
a monster, — ^b-b-but I don't think he will hurt us. Not 
with Tatkin here to take care of us." 

The monster was standing on the bent down top of 

5 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

one of the trees, which swayed under his weight, eye- 
ing them with a kind of distant and indifferent curiosity 
— if there can be such a thing ! How long he had been 
there Betty had no idea; all of the time they had, pos- 
sibly. He did not look surprised, at any rate. 

Neither did he look threatening. That is, his ex- 
pression did not seem threatening to her. Rather, it 
was mildly interested. His monstrous round eyes that 
set out from his head almost as our ears do from ours, 
gave him a kind of foolishly bland look. Still, his great 
ugly, crooked legs and his horns — which he waved over 
his head in a startling fashion, considering that a cow 
never moves hers at all — made them shudder. 

‘"Ugh!” shivered Betty, drawing back still more as 
she stared into those eyes, fascinated. ‘'Oh, Billy! He 
— he’s terrible, isn’t he?” 

Billy was not able to speak at all, for the spectacle 
which the creature presented ; but he nodded vigorously. 
Tatkin growled again, and stretched his head out to- 
wards him and sniffed the air, raging and yet restrained 
by Betty’s hand on his collar. The monster moved 
slightly, taking a step along the trunk of the broken 
down tree, still staring at them with his goggling eyes. 
They were not quite sure about his mouth — which was 
some comfort! Perhaps it was not so bad after all, as 
they somehow felt that it must be ! But they dared not 
6 


The Spell of the Bubble 

stir; and he did not, for what must have been an age, 
during which he just kept staring and staring. 

^'Oh-hT' shivered Betty again at last, in spite of 
herself. 

''Oh-h!'" repeated the monster in a rasping voice, 
mimicking her it seemed, as nearly as he was able, 
‘'what queer things!’’ Both children gasped at this — 
and who would not? “Where did you come from?” 

“Why — where did you come from?” asked Billy, sur- 
prised into speaking. 

“I! — I?'' He came along several steps of his sev- 
eral legs, and looked down on them sharply from his 
high perch, his broad face still wearing the same un- 
moved look, however. “Why, I” he fairly roared now 
— he was evidently getting excited , — ''belong here. 
This is my home, my domain, my kingdom, if you will — 
if you understand that/' 

“Oh, yes, indeed,” said Betty quickly and very po- 
litely, “we understand, exactly. We didn’t mean to be 
inquisitive, you know, only my brother and I were won- 
dering — ” 

“Wondering what?” snapped the monster, one of his 
horns turned over towards them accusingly, it seemed 
to her. 

“Why, wondering what place this was. We — we 
don’t know.” 


7 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

‘‘Why, yes, you do! IVe just told you/’ He stared 
harder than ever. 

“Oh, yes, of course. 'Now we know.” 

^Well, then—?” 

“But we didn’t — till you told us.” She was being 
very brave, but in her secret heart she was just sick with 
fear of him — the great, horrible thing! Oh, where was 
Alec? Why didn’t he come? What should she do? 
How get Billy away from here? How ever find their 
way back home ? 

She looked this way and that through the trees, then 
back at the monstrous sort of egg-shaped face so nearly 
over their heads. Its pop-eyes stood out so far that they 
did not have to move at all in order to see everything, 
behind the beast as well as on every side. He was green 
in color, all over — ^brighter green in some places than in 
others, and with some red here and there — but nearly 
all green; and as she studied him a little more closely, 
she saw that what she at first thought was smooth green 
skin, was really great plates of shell or something like 
it, that were jointed to fit his clumsy form very cleverly. 
Two, four legs she counted; and then, “My goodness!” 
exclaimed she, without meaning to. There was another 
pair, further back — enormous long legs that humped 
way up above his back so high that even the tips of 
his horns did not reach any higher ! 

8 


The Spell of the Bubble 

*‘Your what?’’ he asked, impatiently. 

‘‘Nothing — nothing at all!” answered Betty; “that’s 
just an expression.” 

“You’re a queer outfit,” said he, twisting around side- 
wise a little, and chewing his jaws on nothing at all ap- 
parently — and oh! — they were terrible jaws! “Never 
saw any of you before.” 

Not knowing what to say to this, they kept still, though 
Billy would have spoken if Betty had not squeezed hard 
on his arm. 

“What do you live on?” 

“Why — why,” stammered Betty, quite taken aback 
by what was, after all, a very simple question, “on — 
eggs, and — and oatmeal, and milk — and meat for din- 
ners ordinary but chicken on Sunday.” 

“Eggs! Oatmeal! Meat!” he snorted — or it would 
have been a snort if he had had a better nose, “what are 
they? Where do they grow?” 

They looked at each other helplessly. ''Where do 
they growf^ he demanded again, raising his voice so 
that it fairly tore the air all about. 

“Why — why, we don’t know, do we, Billy?” 

“Eggs grow in the nests out beside the barn,” said 
Billy, “but I don’t know about the oatmeal. And meat 
grows — why, meat grows — in the refrigerator.” 

“Bah!” said the monster scornfully, “you’re fools! 

9 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

Nothing that you say has meaning. Food grows out 
of the earth — except for those of us who live on each 
other.’" 

They clasped each other close at this, huddled over 
the dog; for they were sure that this could only mean 
they were to be devoured themselves, when it suited 
his good pleasure. ’Patkin, observing a sudden move- 
ment on the part of the abominable creature, drew back 
his lip and showed his fangs, glaring at him. But Betty 
still held him fast ! 

‘'Bah !” said the monster again, folding his great last 
legs up more and more closely till they stuck further 
above his back than ever, “you don’t know anything! 
You’re as bad as human beings.” 

“Why, that’s what we are,” cried Billy, a little bit 
indignantly in spite of the fear of him. 

“O — ho! Then that accounts for it. But I don’t 
think I believe you. You are too little.” 

“That’s because we are children,” Betty explained. 
“Billy’s only six and I’m only ’leven. We have to grow 
up yet.” 

“Mm — hum. Well! Maybe. It doesn’t matter.” 
And with that he gave a sudden spring into the air, away 
high up; and landed on the ground right before them — 
which frightened them nearly to death, naturally! 
They clung to each other and to ’Patkin more closely 
lO 


The Spell of the Bubble 

than before; and in spite of biting her lip until it hurt 
her cruelly, Betty cried out faintly. 

But instead of approaching nearer and striking them 
down, the monster turned away and began to search 
for something apparently, among the great trees. 
Of course they never took their eyes off him; but he 
paid no further attention to them for some time — not 
until he had found what he was hunting, and eaten it, 
with a great chanking and chewing. And if you will 
believe it, it was no more nor less than a young tree 
itself — a tender specimen of the general growth! He 
made away with it in no time; and then he came over 
towards them again, walking now along the ground. 

''Oatmeal,’^ he said reflectively, looking at one and 
then the other and then at Tatkin; ‘^oatmeal. Oat meal 
— that may have something to do with it. If I thought 
it had! — if it is — V 

Now the time had surely come, they knew — now he 
would either seize them and bear them away to his den, 
wherever that might be; or he would open his great 
jaws ! — And just then he did, waving one horn furi- 
ously. And they saw away into his awful mouth, where 
he clashed his teeth together, sidewise , — as if they were 
hands which he was clapping! — and ground them, mak- 
ing a hideous sound and frothing a brown froth through 
them. 


II 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

screamed Betty, ‘'oh, please, Mr. Beast! We 
haven’t done anything to be angry about! Please, 
please go away and leave us. We will do anything you 
say — only don’t kill us and eat us, Billy and me — and 
’Patkin ! We can’t do any harm !” 

He stopped his threatenings almost as suddenly as he 
had begun them; but whether for what she said, or for 
the presence of another, more terrible looking, the 
children at first thought than himself, they had no 
idea. 

“Humph!” he said shortly, after he had stared at the 
newcomer in his strange, bland way ; and then he turned 
and went to hunting again, and soon was eating another 
tree. 

“What’s all this, what’s all this ?” said the new arrival, 
with a brisk, keen air that somehow made Betty feel he 
could not be as wicked as he looked. “What’s going on ? 
What did I hear said about killing? And eating?” 

“Oh, if you please, I said don’t kill us and eat us,” 
she cried, “we haven’t done anything. We didn’t mean 
to come here, either — and if you’ll only show us the way, 
we’ll go right straight home. But we can’t find it our- 
selves — and we don’t know how we got here — and oh, 
if you ^-^-please, Mr. — Mr. — ” 

“Some call me a Gryllus,” said he not unkindly, look- 
ing at her with the same kind of a twist to his head that 


12 


The Spell of the Bubble 

old gentlemen have when they look over their spectacles, 
though he had no spectacles on. 

'‘Mr. Gryllus, sir — if you please, it's all terrible! 
And I am to blame, if we've done anything, for I take 
care of Billy, because he's lame and younger ; but I don't 
see how I ever brought him to such a place as this! 
And we both want to go home, oh — so much 1" 

"Home? Where is your home?" 

"At Meadowview Orphanage now, Mr. Gryllus — 
since mother died." 

"Oh, yes; quite a little distance from here. I know 
it." 

"Oh, you do? Then please tell us how to go. I can 
carry Billy some of the way; and he can walk quite well, 
really — only we have to go slowly.'’ 

"Not so fast, not so fast 1" The black eyes of the new 
beast shone like jet as he looked at her. 

"No," she answered tactfully, mindful of offending 
him, "not so very fast. That's what I meant." 

He looked at her again, and she thought he laughed — 
or would have laughed if his hard, shining black face 
had been able to wrinkle. It was as immovable as the 
face of the first creature; but after all, it had not such 
a sanctimonious, unpleasant expression. And though 
his form was something the same, yet it was different 
in many ways — somehow less hideous, even though its 

13 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

covering was black as a coal and as shiny, and it seemed, 
as hard. It was trimmer and neater, she could not help 
but feel. 

‘'I meant to say that I don’t know about telling you 
how to go there,” he explained, ''it’s one thing to know 
a place, and another to tell somebody else how to go 
there. And I visit it seldom.” 

"But you do visit it? Really and truly? Have you 
ever been there?” Here was a discovery! These were 
the monsters that came around looking for bad children, 
without a doubt I 

"Rarely,” said he, "rarely.” 

He whirled around for some reason or other, so sud- 
denly that it made them jump, and peered off into the 
forest depths. He had horns, too, which he wiggled 
constantly, in a much more lively fashion than the green 
beast had moved his; and one of them just now reached 
over so far that its tip brushed against them. It too 
was covered with the black cover, but at the tip it was 
flexible it seemed, and jointed. His legs — ^he had six 
also! — were armed with dreadful looking spikes that 
would cut terribly, Betty felt sure, if they happened to 
strike one; and altogether he was pretty terrible — ^but 
not so fearsome as the first, nevertheless. She fell to 
thinking, trying to remember if she had ever seen a pic- 
ture of any animal, anywhere, that was like him — or 

14 


The Spell of the Bubble 

like either of them. She was sure she had not; and 
yet there was something about this really splendid, 
shining and seemingly good-natured monster, that re- 
minded her of something. What could it be ? 

Another quick move and he had turned back again, 
towards them; but he kept one of his horns backward, 
over his left shoulder. ‘‘You aren’t very safe here,” he 
said shortly, “though I don’t know who is going to touch 
you. But you aren’t.’^ 

Just at that instant, as if to bear out his words, they 
heard, deeper in the jungle, some great thing passing, 
crashing over the undergrowth and hurrying along. 
And the next instant there appeared in the distance, in 
another direction, somebody or something carrying a 
huge white bundle — some one hurrying faster than the 
children had ever seen anything hurry in all their lives, 
and coming straight toward them. 

“Look out!” called the black beast — Mr. Gryllus, 
rather. And look out they did and jumped back, just 
in time to escape being bowled over ; for in its mad haste 
the creature never looked to the right nor the left nor 
anywhere else, but just went straight ahead, unmindful 
of anything. They hardly saw what it looked like, it 
was gone so quickly. 

“That’s the way they always go it,” said he, looking 
after it, “like all possessed !” 

15 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

‘What is it?'’ asked Billy. 

“Oh, one of the Formicas,” he answered, in a tone that 
showed he did not think much of them, “mad creatures, 
all of them.” 

They would have asked more questions; but over the 
tops of the tallest trees just then they heard a low hum- 
ming sound, away in the distance apparently. It came 
nearer very swiftly, however; and both Billy and Betty, 
who had been to the Fourth of July celebration, said 
in one breath, “Aeroplane!” 

Louder and louder it hummed up above, — a high, 
sweet sound which presently ended with a sharp little 
break, right over their heads. 

They stretched their necks — the children and Tatkin 
did, that is; Mr. Gryllus could see up as well as any other 
way without troubling, though he was not so pop-eyed 
as the green monster. 

And there, away above them, higher up than the tops 
of the tallest, straight, leafless trees, Billy spied it, sway- 
ing from something to which it was caught, apparently. 

“It is an aeroplane,” he cried, “and they’ve had an 
accident !” 

‘‘Oh — is it falling?” gasped Betty, who had not seen it 
as yet. 

“No, but it’s stuck to something ’way up there. It 
can’t go ! — Oh, but now it can. See ! It’s going — ^now 

i6 


The Spell of the Bubble 

it's going again. And — why, it's coming right down 
hereT 

Sure enough, it did; and what is more, it was not an 
aeroplane! At least it was not the kind of aeroplane 
that Betty and Billy thought it was. No, indeed! But 
it was a flying machine, with wings that went up and 
down so fast you could not see them — ^brilliant, sparkling 
wings that looked like some wonderful spun glass, 
streaked with the most beautiful colors, outspread in the 
sun. 

They folded when it came carefully down through the 
trees, until they were laid quite closely and neatly, against 
the sides of the fur-clad aviator who at last stood before 
them. 

'Where," demanded this personage, as one accus- 
tomed to demand, greeting them all with a quaint dip of 
the body very much like a curtsey, "where do I scent the 
odor of the Hive Providers? Who is here?" 

"Strangers, as you may see. Serenity," answered 
Gryllus, "perhaps they bear it about them." 

Totally different in appearance from either of the 
monsters — a creature from another world it almost 
seemed — the aviator came right up to the little group 
of children and dog 'Patkin, and looked at them very 
intently, sniffing this way and that; then walked quite all 
of the way around them, whilst they dared not move but 

17 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

stood breathless before what was perhaps a new danger 
that threatened. 

‘Where do you come from?” was the next question. 

“We live at Meadowview Orphanage, if you please, 
sir,” said Betty, faintly. 

“ ‘If you please, miss/ ” corrected the aviator, a little 
crisply. Then, without waiting for her to speak again, 
“I thought so. These are humans, Gryllus ; and as such, 
the special charge of my people, wherever they may be 
— ^but I must say I don’t understand how in creation this 
has come about !” And she looked them over and over 
again, poised airily on what they at first thought were 
stilts, but later saw were her own long slender legs. 

Betty knew it would be perfectly useless to try hiding 
anything from anybody who had such searching eyes as 
these that were fixed upon them. Indeed, it seemed to 
her that the creature was just all eyes — or about all eyes. 
And she found herself looking back into her own self, 
and thinking of all the things she had ever done that she 
ought not to have done. Somehow, it was as if her own 
conscience stood there before her, examining her; and 
though she had never in her life been a very disobedient 
or naughty or troublesome little girl, she did remember 
some things with a pang — and resolved never to do any- 
thing just like them again. Such was the effect of this 
steadfast, searching, wonderful gaze! 

i8 


The Spell of the Bubble 

‘Well — neither do I/’ said Gryllus, whirling about 
again, “but you'll take charge of them in any event, I 
suppose." He looked from one to another alternately. 

The aviator nodded. “Oh, yes, of course we will," 
said she ; then she gave a peculiar little call — a soft, tril- 
ling, musical sound, repeated several times over. In an 
instant they heard overhead the humming again — only 
this time it came from every direction at once, appar- 
ently, and grew louder and louder until their ears were 
fairly deafened by it. And out of the skies came more 
of the flying creatures — numbers and numbers of them, 
all steering straight for this one spot. Above it they 
paused an instant, then each descended just as the first 
had done, folding their great lovely wings carefully and 
landing so lightly that they hardly seemed to touch the 
ground. 

The children could only stand and stare, still clasping 
each other and their playfellow and faithful friend. It 
was all too extraordinary to be realized. And yet what 
was there, Betty kept wondering, about these new and 
strange forms that reminded her of something? She 
could not tell — nor could she think what they reminded 
her of. It was all most puzzling, and made her head 
ache — but just then the first of the flying creatures be- 
gan to talk to all the rest. Gryllus stood over at one side 
and listened, but took no part in the conference. 

19 


Wonder day 8 and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

‘^Clansmen/’ said she, ‘^a strange thing has happened, 
it seems; for here I have come upon two creatures as 
like our great and good Providers of the Hives as it is 
possible for creatures to be. Yet you see them, here 
amongst us on an equality with ourselves ; hence, subject 
to all the dangers and the evils to which we ourselves 
are subject. I have taken them under the care of the 
clan, as of course is my plain duty; and I here call upon 
you all to stand by, and swear fealty and loyalty to that 
care. What say you?’’ 

‘Wour Highness,” one stepped out from the crowd 
to address her, '‘have you proof, may I ask, of their 
kinship with the Hive Providers ? This is very remark- 
able!” 

"Proof enough — as you and all of us, have — in the 
evidence of my own true senses. Do you not recognize 
the scent of these beings on whom we have depended so 
many ages for shelter?” 

The speaker came over to them and examined them, 
just as Her Highness had done when she first arrived. 
"I do,” she admitted at last, "in very truth, I do.” 

"Will you not all satisfy yourselves, as my sister the 
Princess Dulciana has just done, and as I did?” said Her 
first Highness then. Whereupon each and every one of 
the company came to them and looked them over in the 
same careful way, and walked all the way around them 
20 


The Spell of the Bubble 

— and then went back to their place, saying they were 
satisfied. 

‘'And now, what say you?’’ came the question again, 
when the last had taken her turn. 

The children could only look on, wondering what their 
fate was to be, as they had wondered so often in the 
last half hour. 

“They are our guests and charges,” answered one and 
all. “We swear the oath of fealty and loyalty. And 
with us they shall remain as long as it pleases them to do 
so — or until they are taken away.” 

“And may we not add that we count it a privilege to 
serve any of that tribe that have for so long served and 
tended ours?” said a voice from somewhere in the crowd. 
To which they all assented loudly. 

Then Her Highness, — as they had called her — turned 
to the children and spoke to them. 

“We have not questioned you to any extent,” said 
she, “and we shall not. But whilst you remain here with 
us and dwell amongst these tribes and clans that are 
strangers to your tribe, there are certain rules which we 
must ask you to follow — for your own safety as well as 
for the law and order of the land. Are you ready to 
promise that you will?” 

“Yes, indeed we are!” said Betty and Billy with one 
voice, “but oh. Princess ! — for you are a Princess, aren’t 


21 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

you?'’ — she nodded, gracefully, — ‘'will you not tell us 
where this land is? — and what it all means?” 

*'This landf' repeated the Princess, in a puzzled tone, 
“why, this is the only land there is, child ! Here is the 
earth, under our feet; and here,” she looked off and 
around the forest, “here is the sweet green grass. And 
overhead is the sky, hidden a good deal here by the taller 
grasses to be sure, but shining through in some places ; 
and yonder, up there — see? — is a clover, on which we 
each alighted as we came here ; and this is our good old 
friend, Cricket — or perhaps you are of those who call 
him Gryllus, which is his formal name; and these, my 
clansmen — or my clanswomen, speaking more exactly — 
you know them, surely! — the honeymakers, the singing 
workers of the kingdom of Apis — of which I have the 
honor to be a princess, daughter of the queen now reign- 
ing — Dulcinea, if you would know me by name.” 

“You're honey-bees !” gasped Betty, too full of amaze- 
ment to think of being afraid of them, if the guess proved 
to be right. 

“If that is what you name us, yes,” answered the 
Princess, “we are the ones who gather nectar and turn 
it into honey.” 

“But how can that be? You — you're so big ! — as big 
as we are.” In spite of her own eyes and ears, Betty 
could not believe it. 


22 


The Spell of the Bubble 

*'We are, indeed,” answered the Princess, “or you are 
as small as we are, — which amounts to the same thing.” 
“Well, I don*t understand it!” 

“Neither do I,” said the Princess, “but that doesn’t 
alter the facts.” 


23 



BAD EARTH AND GOOD AND THE LITTLE 
PRISONERS OF HOPE 


H OW to teach these two — Betty and Billy — to find 
their way about the neighborhood now that 
everything was so strange to them because of their 
being so tiny, was the first problem that the two 
princesses, Dulcinea and Dulciana, found before them. 
And it was a hard problem, as they very soon saw — and 
as you will see, too, when you come to think of it. 

The children had not thought of the difficulties until 
Her Serene Highness Dulcinea was finishing what she 
had to tell them about what they were to do all day — or 
all the time they were alone. Of course she and her sis- 
ters had given some of their time to them; but it was 
hardly to be expected that such an interruption in a 
honey-bee’s work could be allowed to last a moment 
24 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

longer than was necessary. So they were to be left to 
their own devices, with very careful directions about 
everything. ‘'And then you must watch, please,” she fin- 
ished — or started to finish — ^beginning to open and close 
her wings a little, to warm them up, “and be at the great 
foxglove on the Avenue of the Hives when the last Sun- 
beam leaves General Pinetree’s head. I’ll meet you 
there and — ” 

I “But if you please,” broke in Betty, interrupting be- 
cause the princess seemed about to take wing at once in 
the midst of her own speech, “if you please. Princess, 
where is that?” 

“Why, just beyond General Pinetree — toward the 
morning from him. He watches over the Hives you 
know.” 

“But General Pinetree, I mean. Where is he? And 
which way is morning?” 

“Bless my soul,” said the Princess, letting her wings 
droop in her surprise, “don’t you know that?” 

•“No, Princess — we don’t,” said both children together, 
feeling very stupid and rather ashamed of themselves. 
To cover their ignorance as much as possible, Billy 
added, “He isn’t anywhere around the Orphanage, is he. 
Princess?” 

“Oh, dear no ! He’s quite in the other direction from 
here — over yonder.” She pointed daintily ; but of course 

25 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

they could see no distance at all owing to the thick- 
ness of the jungle — I mean the grass! — though they 
looked this way and that, trying to see through, in 
the way she pointed. And fair Dulcinea was pretty 
nearly discouraged about them, when up spoke 
Mr. Gryllus, who had stayed around all this time, not 
being very busy. In fact Grylluses are seldom very 
busy; and so can just stay around, a great deal of the 
time. 

‘‘If you’ll pardon me,” said he, “I’d like to suggest 
something — or at least I’d like to tell you something 
which maybe you don’t know— or haven’t thought 
about.” 

“By all means do,” urged Dulciana, quite as perplexed 
as her sister, and beginning to get pretty nervous, hav- 
ing delayed so long and not knowing how to dispose of 
these strangers. 

“Well,” said Mr. Gryllus, “I wish to call your atten- 
tion to the fact that we have three visitors here — and 
that one of them is a creature nearer to ourselves than 
either of the others — though of course he is as different 
from us, really, as they are. Nevertheless, from what 
I know of him and of his kind, I am pretty sure that he 
has the solution of this whole business right in the tip of 
his long, slim, aristocratic nose.” 

“His nose!” said both Princesses together, in surprise. 
26 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

And, ‘'His nose?’’ said Billy and Betty as they looked at 
’Patkin. Gryllus was looking at him too; and ’Patkin 
was looking at Gryllus. And thus they stood for some 
time, each measuring the other, it would appear. Then 
Mr. Gryllus spoke again, to the dog this time. 

“You and your tribe,” said he, “have companied with 
human kind for as many ages as I and my tribe have 
done. You have dwelt in their shelters from the time 
when they first learned to make shelters, even as we have. 
We have not been friends, your tribe and mine — for you 
hold us in contempt because of our size, and make play- 
things of us, and capture us and kill us, in your rough 
folly. But I bear you no grudge as an individual; your 
kind, according to their ways, even as my kind, and every 
other, according to their’s. What I am getting at is this : 
— I know you well enough to know the power of the tip 
of your nose. It can be depended upon, my friend — 
aha, yes! — quite as fully as the smellers of these your 
protectors, the singing workers of the kingdom of the 
Apis — or Buzfuz, as some call it. You can find the way, 
anywhere !” 

’Patkin studied him for a moment longer before he 
answered. Then he put out a paw and shook hands with 
him; and turned to Betty and said, with great dignity, 
“He is right — as of course you know.” 

“Well, then,” said the Princess Dulciana, briskly, 
27 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

‘^that makes everything all right — thank goodness ! 
And now we must be off/' 

‘'And can you take us to the great foxglove on the 
Avenue of the Hives, Tatkin, dear?" asked Betty, “do 
you really know where it is ?" 

“There is such an avenue," answered 'Patkin, his 
plumey tail waving, “in the garden of my Lady, whence 
I come daily to romp with you." 

“Toward the morning from General Pinetree?" de- 
manded Dulcinea. 

“Toward the morning from General Pinetree," an- 
swered Tatkin. 

“Then it is the same. And we need have no further 
anxiety," said Dulciana, impatiently fluttering her 
wings. 

“ Tis some distance from here, though," said Tatkin, 
“even for me. I fear it is a longer journey than my play- 
mates can travel." 

“Oh, there's no hurry," the Princess Dulcinea assured 
him. “See? The shadows are plump yet, and lie but a 
little toward the morning." 

“But I think we ought to start at once," said Betty, 
mindful of her brother's lameness. “Oh, Billy ! How 
I wish we had your chair." 

Mr. Gryllus peered at them in his over-his-spectacles 
way when she said this; then he walked about a little 
28 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

and took two or three jumps, carelessly — coming down 
with a tumble and righting himself as if he never noticed 
it at all, and didn’t care whether he struck on his head or 
his feet. .Then he began to talk, as if he were talking to 
himself. ‘I’ve a good mind,” said he, hopping away and 
then hopping back, ‘T’ve a good mind to stay around and 
keep them company. I’ve nothing special to do.” 

“That would be more than good of you,” said 
Dulcinea, quite gratefully, “I do hate to leave them unat- 
tended— ’specially while they’re so strange.” 

“Well^ — I’ll see,” said he, looking at them again, “I’ll 
see. Anyway I’ll show them the best route. This way, 
children — and Mr. ’Patkin.” 

Off they started — and away went their Serene High- 
nesses, Dulciana almost scolding over the delay in their 
work. But they were out of sight in no time — and 
almost as soon out of hearing. 

“Won’t go over this way,” said Mr. Gryllus, turning 
a bit to the left, “bad place; wet. Might get mired.” 

“Where are vv’e now?” asked Billy as the forest sud- 
denly ended and they stepped out onto bare brown earth, 
“Oh! — I’ll bet this is the garden!'' 

“Humph ! Maybe— if you mean the place where that 
MAN makes such a nuisance of himself, disturbing the 
ground all the time, and worrying it.” 

“Oh, Billy! That’s just what it would seem like, 
29 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

from down here where we are now — isn’t it? That’s 
what Alec does do — worry the ground,” cried Betty, her 
eyes sparkling at the idea. 

''Day in and day out he’s at it,” grumbled Mr. Gryllus, 
as he waited for them to catch up. "He puts in seeds, 
and then, fast as they grow, out he hauls the plants — 
then he puts in more, and hauls them out ! If that’s the 
doings of a sensible creature — well!” he ended with a 
snort, too disgusted to find words to finish. 

They stopped to laugh out loud at this funny idea of 
Alec; and then suddenly, from right under their feet, 
they heard a little cry. "My goodness,” gasped Betty, 
jumping, "who’s that? Where are they? Oh — dear!*' 

They could not see any one, anywhere ; but again came 
the sound — like some one down cellar, if they had been 
indoors. 

"Oh,” wailed the tiny voice — a voice quite as still and 
as small as ever the voice of conscience was — "oh — ^h, 
dear me I I never shall be able to get it open 1 I never 
can push hard enough! My head aches and my back 
aches and all of me aches and aches so now — whatever 
will become of me — ^whatever shall I do?” 

"Oh, dear!” cried Betty again, in an agony of sym- 
pathy. 

"How many warms and cools have passed?” asked a 
stiller, even smaller voice — such a weak, discouraged 

30 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

little voice, as it trailed up from beneath them, that it 
seemed nothing more than a mist wraith dying. 

‘^Ten,” cried the first, ^‘ten warms and eleven cools ! 
And it hasn’t given a bit!” 

^'Nowhere?” 

*Nowherer 

At this there came a perfectly heartrending chorus of 
soft little sobs, and thin little moans, and weak little 
cries ; and Betty’s eyes filled and her lip trembled, while 
’Patkin looked hard at the ground, and laid a paw for- 
ward upon it, half a mind to try digging it up. 'It is,” 
cried Billy, "it surely is somebody down under here.” 

Mr. Gryllus looked on without saying anything, rather 
surprised, it seemed, at their getting so excited. At last 
Betty turned to him. "Can’t you do something?” she 
asked tearfully, "whoever it is, we ought to try to get 
them out.” 

He waved his horns reflectively and sidled this way 
and that. "Pshaw,” said he at last, "do you think so?” 

"Good gracious ! Of course we ought,” said ’Patkin 
in astonishment, "every one knows that 1” 

"Why — ^we never do,” was Mr. Gryllus’ reply, in a 
most matter-of-fact tone. 

"Why!” exclaimed Betty, "do these — these people, or 
whatever they are, often get into such trouble?” 

"Oh, yes; it’s happening somewhere all the time,” 

31 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

inswered he, ‘'we hear 'em everywhere — and specially 
in certain places." 

“How dreadful! Who are they?" 

“That I cannot tell you. I only hear their voices. 
I’ve never seen any of them." 

“Oh, dear," said she between a sigh and a sob, shocked 
beyond words to find out that such a thing was of com- 
mon occurrence, “Oh, how terrible! The poor little 
things ! The poor little things !" 

Billy was down on the ground now, trying to loosen 
it; but it was not at all what he had supposed dirt to be, 
and he made very poor headway, even with ’Patkin’s 
eager paws helping. In fact he could not get under even 
the largest of the small, queer, angular little stones — 
they seemed to be stones, anyway — which were wedged 
together so tightly that they made an even surface like 
cement ; and the stick which he had found was no better 
than his bare hands or ’Patkin’s paws, when it came to 
loosening them. 

Betty watched them, her heart sinking lower and 
lower every minute — for they heard only now and then 
a faint lamentation from below. Most of the little 
voices were stilled — and she grew more and more fearful 
that they would never be able to reach them, whatever 
they were, while any were still alive. 

She looked away over the bare earth, seeking some 

32 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

other thing to dig with — and wondering, even as she 
looked, at the widely separated masses of green which 
grew out of it. Tufts of vegetables, she knew these 
must be; but they towered so high above her head and 
were so huge in every way, that she could not even guess 
what kinds they were. 

Then suddenly Mr. Gryllus whirled himself about in 
the quick way that he had, and stood still an instant, 
horns quivering. And then he shouted in a voice that 
just made them tingle, ‘"Quick! Out of the way! For 
your lives — it’s the MAN !” and leaped high into the air 
as he did so, to escape the danger. 

The ground trembled all around them with great, 
queer throbs that Betty knew afterwards must have been 
Alec’s footfalls — and she too made a leap, seizing Billy 
and almost flinging him and herself toward Mr. Gryllus, 
knowing that he must have taken the safest direction; 
and shouting to ’Patkin, who also shouted to her — or 
barked at her. 

And not an instant too soon were they! For right 
down where they had all been standing came one of 
Alec’s feet — and it was almost if not quite as large as 
their part of the Orphanage ! At least it was almost as 
large to them now, as their part of the Orphanage was 
to them when they were their regular size. 

“Get over here, get over here,” screamed Mr. Gryllus, 

33 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

jumping up and down madly, ‘'get away over here!'' 

Which they did as fast as their size and their terror 
would let them. And into a thicket of string bean vines 
he helped them breathlessly, till at last they were safely 
hidden and could look out and try to see Alec. 

But he was so huge they could not, only in sec- 
tions ! Almost out of sight up into the sky he reached, 
hundreds of times as big as they were; and they just 
held their breath and clung close to each other as they 
looked. 

“Oh — h! — suppose he had stepped on us!"' gasped 
Betty, hugging Tatkin on one side and her brother on 
the other. “Oh — he's a giant !" 

“Keep close, keep close," warned Mr. Gryllus, “keep 
close into the shelter of the green stuff. They never 
tread on that — at least they never mean to. Of course 
they make missteps, sometimes; and personally I don't 
care to hang around a garden — if that's what you call 
these places. It never seemed to me worth while; but 
some don't feel so." 

“Can't we get out of here, then," asked Billy, “right 
away?" 

Mr. Gryllus signified not, with a gesture peculiar to 
himself. “Not much," said he, “not now! Not for 
anything! Lay low and keep still. Even our voices 
ought not to be heard." 


34 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

‘‘Why, Alec wouldn’t hurt us,” said Betty, “he’s good 
and kind.” 

“My dear, don’t you fool yourself. He’d smash us in 
a jiffy!” 

“Oh, Mr. Gryllus! How can you say that? Alec is 
good and kind to everybody.” 

The shiny black eyes looked at her sharply, with a 
funny look. Then Mr. Gryllus answered in a low tone, 
“Is he? Oh, indeed! From his way of looking at it — 
possibly.” 

Of course she knew that he meant just the other way 
about; and then she remembered with a jump how Alec 
always said “Smash him!” whenever any kind of an 
insect came in sight. Good gracious! — how her heart 
sank, — for themselves this time. It was very cautiously, 
you may believe, that she looked out through the thick 
vines, — hanging on tight to both her companions. 

Suddenly they heard a rumble, like distant thunder. 
“Ssh!” said Mr. Gryllus, “he’s talking.” And that is 
just what it was — Alec talking! — as they always ex- 
pected him to, to the plants over which he was at work. 
It was a terrific racket, but they managed to make out 
what he said just the same. “Dead as doornails,” roared 
over their heads, “those young ’uns ought ’a know’d bet- 
ter, after all I told ’em. Doggone it ! Japanee seed, too. 
Seem’s if they’d never learn nothin’ !” 

35 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

''It's the morning-glories," whispered Billy, "he's talk- 
ing 'bout our morning-glories. I'll bet." 

But what was he doing? They saw him bend down, 
then put out a great hand and begin tearing the earth 
loose right where Billy and 'Patkin had been trying so 
hard to start it. 

"Yes sir! 'Tis them — for it's right where we put 
them," went on Billy, after another look, "for there's the 
fence, isn't it?" 

Mr. Gryllus looked. "That is a fence I believe," said 
he, "at any rate, that's what I have heard MEN call a 
fence. And it's one I can't jump over, too — which is 
more than you can say of some of 'em." 

"Then we were standing right on our very own 
garden," said Betty, getting excited. "Oh, who do you 
suppose it is down there under it?" 

She hardly got the words out of her mouth before she 
almost shrieked at what she saw happening. "Look, 
look, lookr she cried, "do you see what he has done?" 

Somehow Alec had lifted up a big layer of the hard 
baked soil, all in one piece; and there beneath it stood 
— and laid, alas! — an army of queer looking, pale, 
waxy seedlings, that had never been able to push their 
way through to the light ! 

For ten long days and eleven long nights they had 
tried and tried and tried; and now many of them were 

36 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

quite dead — poor, distorted little things whose strength 
had at last failed, after the sufferings that they had en- 
dured as captives in a stony cell. 

But there were a few that were alive, in spite of all; 
and when these gasped with delight at the sweet, pure 
air beating against their tired little bodies, and cried out 
to each other little cries of thankfulness for their re- 
lease, as they lifted their heads slowly and started to 
straighten their poor aching backs, both Betty and Billy 
were so horrified at their part in the affair that they were 
ready to die of shame and grief. 

‘'Oh, to think we did it,’’ said Betty, ''we put them 
there. Oh, the poor little things! What an awful 
place! Look, Billy — it’s just like a terrible prison with 
stone walls; only they couldn’t even turn around, and 
that’s worse than it is in the jail at Springton. Oh, I’m 
so sorry! I’m going right over and tell them, as fast 
as I can.” 

“Are you a lunatic?” shouted Mr. Gryllus; then low- 
ered his voice again at once, and whispered the rest. 
“You stay here where you are until the MAN goes away 
— and goes so far away that we can get out altogether 
before he gets back. Why, you wouldn’t be worth 
thatr and he flicked a horn sharply. 

“But we didn’t mean to,” said Billy, “we didn’t know 
it was a prison, Betty.” 


37 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

^^Not that it was a prison — ^but Alec said it wasn't good 
for them to go there." Betty was watching eagerly as 
Alec moved about. ‘1 wonder why?" 

^It's not a good place to bury a bone, I know," said 
Tatkin, ‘"or at least it's not an easy place to bury one. 
I tried it yesterday while I was waiting for you ; and it 
quite tired me out, if you'll believe it?" 

“He's taking them up, I do believe," cried Billy, “he's 
taking them up ! See ?" 

“That's just what he's doing," said Betty, “what is he 
going to do?" 

“What did I tell you," said Mr. Gryllus in a sing-song, 
“he puts 'em in and then he takes 'em out, he puts 'em in 
and then he takes 'em out — and he waters 'em whether it 
rains or not — sometimes, anyway. Once he almost hit 
me with one of his silly rain-showers! Oh, he's quite 
hopeless; he's as mad as a hatter." 

Again the rumbling away up where Alec's head was. 
“You poor, pindlin' little things," he was saying, “I’ll 
give you a chance for your lives, anyway — but I wouldn't 
take a copper for the whole lot of you." 

In their tiny little voices the little plants answered him, 
telling him they would try to grow strong and prove their 
gratitude for the trouble he was taking with them; but 
it did not seem to Billy and Betty that such great ears as 
Alec's could possibly hear such soft and delicate little 

38 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

sounds. Still, they remembered that he always had 
talked to everything in the garden; and he bent towards 
these pale little seedlings now as he carried them down 
the path. They were all standing in big lumps of earth 
which he had taken up just as he had taken the earth 
crust off in the beginning. Maybe he did hear them — 
and understand them. Certainly he acted as if he did. 

‘Where’s he going to put them?” cried Betty. ‘T 
just must know! For we must go and tell them how 
sorry we are, and how it was a dreadful mistake, and 
ask them to forgive us. I can’t be happy a minute until 
we do.” 

“You stay here,” said Mr. Gryllus, “and I’ll keep an 
eye on him. I can travel faster than you — and get out 
of the way quicker, if I have to. But I’ll take good care 
he doesn’t see me, be sure of that.” And away he went, 
in such great leaps and bounds that it fairly took their 
breath to watch him. 

Of course in no time he was out of sight — and then 
how very lonely and down-hearted they began to feel, 
almost instantly. “Dear me,” said Betty, “I do hope 
he comes right back. I hope he doesn’t stay long. I 
wonder — ” she looked around fearfully, “I do hope 
there aren’t any of those horrid green savage things 
around here !” 

“So do I,” said her brother, looking around also. 

39 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

And ‘‘So do I,” echoed Tatkin, laying his ears down 
close to his head — a movement that made Betty think of 
Mr. Gryllus’ horns, and the way they moved forward 
and back. She wondered if perhaps he heard with 
them as Tatkin with his ears ; but she was too anxious 
about his return to make the suggestion to Billy and 
Tatkin just then. And then they spied him, within two 
or three jumps of them, coming very fast. 

‘It’s quite exciting,” he called out, “he’s having a 
great time to set them free, after all; and I’ll help you 
to get down there, if you’ll promise to be very still and 
do just as I tell you.” 

Of course they promised, eagerly. And when he went 
on to say that it was just at the end of the fence and 
on the way to the garden of ’Batkin’s Lady, Mr. ’Batkin 
jumped around with joy and barked and wagged his tail 
nearly off — almost forgetting that he could express his 
feelings any other way. It was so short a time that they 
had been able to understand his speech, you see. 

Really it was a long way, considering that the children 
had only two legs to travel on, instead of four like ’Bat- 
kin, or six, which seemed to be the correct number gen- 
erally, among the creatures all about. 

But they kept going; and as every one knows, if one 
keeps going in any direction, one is bound to arrive 
sometime, however slowly they may move. 

40 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

And at last they arrived; and Mr. Gryllus showed them 
where they could walk up hill along the stem of a honey- 
suckle that grew over the fence, until they got high 
enough to see nicely what Alec was about. 

‘‘So you thought you’d get the best of me, did you?” 
the gardener’s helper was saying when they got within 
hearing, “so you thought I’d give up, did you? Well 
— you got left! That’s what you got, you miserable 
little clods you ! Strangle ’em, would you ? Not muchy 
you won’t! I’ll fix you!” 

It was a delicate job, I tell you ! — ^making the bad earth 
that had so nearly killed them give up its hold on them. 
Really it seemed as if it wanted to tear them to pieces ! 
The lumps of it dragged and hung at the baby rootlets, 
and if any one less wise and less gentle than big, clumsy 
Alec had tried to set them free, not a one would have 
had the ghost of a chance. 

But Alec knew just how to go about it; just how to 
take carefully between his thumb and forefinger each 
wicked, hard little clay lump that still clutched a baby 
root fiercely; and just how to pinch that lump and roll 
it, without hurting the root in the least. 

Patiently he worked and very slowly; but just the 
same he pinched without mercy — ^just as the earth had 
pinched the little plants — until every lump at last had 
to let go; which each one did in such a rage of wicked- 
41 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

ness overcome, that they flew all apart in little puffs of 
dust ! 

And so the little plants were free, one after another; 
and as he got each one out, Alec hurried it in again — 
exactly as Mr. Gryllus had said that he did, you see! 
— only the earth into which he put the plant was very 
different indeed from the earth from which he had taken 
it. This they could see ; and if they had not seen, they 
would have guessed it from the funny song he sang, in 
his great, rumbly voice, while he sifted it around the 
rootlets of one, and then another and another — and so 
on till all were replanted. 

It was a song that the children remembered the tune 
of, for he often sang it as he worked; but never before 
had they known that it had any words. 

THE WISE gardener’s SONG 

“The earth is bad, I always know, 

Where, three days after rain, 

I take some in my hand — just so! 

And squeeze it hard, and then let go. 

And it sticks together like bread-dough! 

When this is what I find, 

I know it’s not the kind. 

Of place to put away 
The tender seeds : — it’s Clay ! 


But I am sure the earth is good, 
42 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

When I squeeze it as IVe said, 

And it falls apart like breakfast food 
That’s dry — or just as if it would 
Rather not crumble up, though it should : — - 

Wherever it’s like this. 

To sow is not amiss; 

Such soil is just the home 
Seeds like ; — and it’s called Loam. 

^^And SO there you are, little folks,” he said, as he fin- 
ished the song and the planting together, ‘‘every leetle, 
teenty root snug in the softness of it. And now you 
shall have a drink, — then good-night.” 

With this he went and got the watering-pot and filled 
it, and then came and sprinkled them with a very fine, 
gentle spray that was more like a mist than a sprinkling. 
And then what did he do but spread an old umbrella 
over them ! — “to keep the sun off you in the morning,” 
he explained to the flowers, “for you ain’t equal to his 
sharp eyes quite yet, my pretty little pale ones.” 

“Oh! — isn’t he wonderful?” said the tiny little voice 
that they had first heard speaking down in the ground, 
as he went away. “He has saved us I” 

“Oh — he has tried to save us,” answered the weaker 
one, more faintly than ever, it seemed, “but whether I 
can live or not I don’t know. I’m very, very feeble. 
And oh, the memory of that dreadful burning cell, and 
its horrible walls that pressed against me until I grew 
43 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

all misshapen, like this ! The more I twisted and turned 
and tried to get out, the more my tender body was 
warped! I don’t know as it’s worth while trying to 
live!” 

''Come, come!” said the other, "don’t be down- 
hearted. Brace up! We’re free now, and out under 
the sky where we belong. Nothing’s worth doing that 
isn’t a struggle — and if you’ll just try, you can forget 
all that, and get well and grow to be a great big strong 
vine. Just tryT 

"Oh, yes — please do,” urged Betty, who was hurrying 
down from the honeysuckle as fast as she could. With 
Billy to look after and Mr. Gryllus warning her every 
step of the way, lest she fail to be watchful, her pace was 
not rapid, yet she was soon standing before them. 

"Please, please do, dear little Miss Morning-glory. 
For my brother and I are the ones who put your seed 
cradle down into that bad earth, and made you suffer 
so ; and we are so sorry it seems as if we could not bear 
it. And if you don’t live now, I don’t think we can!” 
Her lip trembled and she choked; and sick as they were, 
all the little morning-glories looked up astonished. 

"Well, I never!” gasped the weak one as they came 
closer to her, "but if you feel as badly as all that, why 
of course I will try. Still, it was careless of you. How 
could you do it?” 


44 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

‘‘It was my fault/’ said Billy, “Betty said put you 
there ’cause it wasn’t so far for me to have to walk. 
I’m lame, you know. And so we did, even after Alec 
said it wasn’t a good place. We thought it didn’t mat- 
ter to seeds — at least not very much.” 

“Well it does,” said the little morning-glory, smiling 
a sad little smile, “it’s life and death to them, little boy. 
Don’t forget that, ever.” 

“How very queer,” said Betty, “when we always 
thought that dirt was just dirt.” 

Mr. Gryllus made a sound that might have been a 
laugh and might have been a grunt ; and then he pointed 
toward the earth where the plants now stood. “You 
can see for yourself, surely,” said he, “that there’s a 
great difference.” 

Of course they could; for here it looked very much 
like Rocky Point Beach, as Billy said. Big stones and 
little, all the way from the size of a chestnut to the size 
of their fists, were all about here. In the other part of 
the garden all the stones were very, very small. Be- 
ing large, these laid loosely against each other instead 
of wedged together, as the others were. All among 
them were pieces of logs — stumps and broken off bits, 
some large, some small — ^very much like the crumbling 
tree trunks that are always scattered through the woods. 
All of these were quite soggy and moist, though it was 
45 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

not raining. Really it was a great surprise, to see how 
the dirt really looked — ^and the difference in it in differ- 
ent places. 

"'Of course,’’ said little Miss Morning-glory, speaking 
with much feeling, ‘^of course this seems not so good to 
you, perhaps, as the other — for it is not smooth to your 
feet. But for us it is, oh, so much better ! Earth that 
is like that other holds us, you know — for our strength 
is puny after all, even though we do push our way up into 
the sunlight with our heads, and down to the cool depths 
with our roots, when we are in the right place. But we 
are so tiny and fragile when first we wake, rolled close 
in our seed-cradles, that unless it is in good and kind 
and gentle earth that we find ourselves, we must perish. 
It must yield to our soft entreaties gladly and willingly; 
not hold us in such a cruel grip and hurt us so !” 

Betty reached out a hand and touched the little plant, 
gently caressing it. ^^Oh, I’m so sorry !” she said again. 
‘Will you forgive us? We didn’t know.” 

The little morning-glory smiled again, more cheer- 
fully this time. “Yes, of course,” she answered, “but 
you ought to know: don’t you think so?” 

“Indeed I do,” answered Betty earnestly. 

After a moment the morning-glory said, “Well then. 
I’ll tell you what you do. Sit right down here and I’ll 
teach you our favorite lullaby. If you remember it, and 
46 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

remember the gardener’s song that you just heard him 
crooning over us, you’ll know a good deal.” 

^^That will be splendid,” cried Betty; and she made 
Billy and ’Patkin sit right down, and sat down herself, 
for the lesson. 

'"It’s very short,” said Miss Morning-glory, ‘^it won’t 
take you long, I’m sure.” Then she said it over once by 
herself ; then line by line and they said it after her. And, 
sure enough, they knew it in no time! 

LULLABY OF THE SEEDS 

‘‘One, two and three. 

Sift over me. 

An earth-blanket three times 
As thick as my cradle, 

When you have laid, 

This where youVe made 
The earth fine and mellow 
Down deep as you're able." 

‘‘You see,” explained another of the morning-glories, 

^ Ve are very sound asleep when our cradles are put into 
the ground. But we soon wake up; and then we begin 
to creep out, and to push our way up, and up, and up. 
There are such wonderful things waiting for us ! — sun- 
light, and sweet rain, and tender little breezes, and blue 
skies and white clouds. Somehow we know they are 
there — and we can hardly wait, we are so anxious to 
47 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

be up and doing! You know the feeling, Fm sure — 
when you wake up.” 

All three of them nodded — little boy and little girl, and 
great big dog. Didn’t they, though? 

‘‘But if we are under earth more than three times our 
cradle’s depth, it’s almost as bad as though we were in 
the cruel clay — almost as bad, but not quite. You see 
it takes so long for us to get our heads out when we’re 
so deep down that sometimes we get discouraged, and 
think we are never going to be able to do it — and so just 
stop trying.” 

“Well, I should think you might,” said Billy, “I don’t 
blame you.” 

“So now you know all about it,” little Miss Morning- 
glory smiled another and brighter smile — she was feel- 
ing so much better every minute, you know — and then 
went on, “and I’ll tell you something else, too. Right 
now this very minute I am enjoying the first bit of food 
I’ve ever taken, except what was in the cradle with me. 
And isn’t it fine? Yes, sir, it is! I don’t know what 
it is — ^but I do know I’ll soon be big and strong on it. 
Um — um — ^yum !” 

They looked at her in surprise. Certainly they could 
not see that she was eating. How in the world did she 
manage, and where did she find this food? They were 
pretty nearly bursting with curiosity — ^but it hardly 

48 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

seemed polite to ask. She explained, however, without 
their asking, 

‘^One of my little foragers — roots are foragers to 
us, you know — has come upon it. He’s reaching out, 
and re-a-ch-ing, — and feeling along and around those 
particles of earth that Billy thinks are so much like the 
stones at Rocky Point Beach — wherever and whatever 
that may be. From the moisture of its smooth sides, 
this delicious stuff comes. My, isn’t it good?” 

‘‘I’m so glad,” said Betty, “I never can tell you how 
happy it’s made me, and Billy and ’Patkin, too, to have 
you made so happy and comfortable. I shall never for- 
get this, I tell you.” 

“And neither shall we,” said Billy and ’Patkin. 

“Well, I wouldn’t if I were you; for surely it is dread- 
ful that helpless seeds such as we were, should ever fall 
on such earth. They can never waken into anything 
but wretched captives when they do — frail prisoners of 
hope!” 

Silence fell upon them, the children thinking it all 
over — all that she had told them — and the little plants 
resting. 

How strange it all was ! To think that plants could 
feel — that it hurt the tender life that was hidden in 
the dead looking little seed, to be imprisoned in the 
grip of hard, unkind earth; to know that plants moved 
49 


W onderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

— that even now, everywhere about them just under the 
ground on which they were sitting, and just under the 
ground all over the world, thousands and millions and 
uncountable billions of soft, tender rootlets were reach- 
ing and feeling their silent way, moving blindly but 
surely in search of the moisture that holds the food of 
plants. Everywhere they are, constantly pushing the 
earth particles aside, so cautiously as they make their 
way through that no one has ever seen them move — ^yet 
pushing them just the same, with a strong and resist- 
less pressure. 

‘‘My goodness !'’ breathed Betty at last. “Isn’t it won- 
derful?” 

“And my goodness,” said Mr. Gryllus very gruffly, 
“it’s past the time you were to be in the garden. I’ll 
have to take you over, if you can manage.” 

“Manage what?” they asked. 

“Manage to stick on,” he answered shortly, “climb 
up.” 

Now of course it is one thing to go about sight-seeing 
with a kind and whimsical monster ; but it is altogether 
another thing to think of getting on his back and riding 
there. And, for a moment, Betty felt that she just could 
not — for though she liked him very much, Gryllus was 
a most outlandish monster, remember, and one does 
shrink from really touching any such great creature. 

50 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

Imagine taking hold of the horn of a cow, if the cow 
were as large as an elephant, for instance; and climbing 
on to its back — especially if the horn were eight or ten 
feet long, and wobbly! And the back covered with 
shiny black shell! A Gryllus is really much worse to 
face, too, when one is the size that they were now, than 
the wildest cow is to us, as we know them. 

But there was nothing else to be done ; he was waiting, 
holding out one leg so that they might use its spikes for 
steps. And so up they went, Betty, then Billy, then 
Tatkin. 

‘‘You’ll have to keep hold of my horn,” said Mr. 
Gryllus, “though, gracious! how I hate to have you! 
Don’t let go, though ; you’ll tumble off if you do.” 

“Am I holding too tightly, sir?” asked Billy. 

“Oh, no — not too tightly. But it’s killing to let 
you touch ’em at all. Brrr! Makes me wild — simply 
wild!” 

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” said Betty. 

“Keep still,” said he, “don’t talk about it! Ready?” 

“Yes, Mr. Gryllus — ^we’re ready,” said they — and 
Betty waved good-night to the morning-glories, who 
nodded and smiled. And then away they went, on the 
most terrible journey, probably, that two children and a 
dog ever took in all this world ! 

Up into the air Mr. Gryllus would leap, not flying, 
SI 


Wonder days and W onderways Through Flowerland 

remember, but jumping with a great bound; and then 
down he would come, kerplunck! And then what a 
jounce they would get! 

And then up again he would go ! And then down he 
would come again 1 

At first Betty screamed each time they rose. But at 
last she hadn’t any breath left to scream with, and so 
could only hang on to one of the great horns and to 
’Patkin and Billy, who were hanging on also; and be 
shaken around like a bundle of rags or something equally 
limp and helpless. 

They got there at last in safety, though ; and slid to the 
ground right beside the great foxglove just as the 
Princess Dulcinea came out from one of its hoods, her 
bright wings half furled. 

‘'Oh, if you please, Princess,” said Betty, “we would 
never have been able to get here on time, if dear Mr. 
Gryllus hadn’t carried us 1” 

“Gryllus? Carried you!” said the princess in aston- 
ishment. 

“Oh, well,” said Mr. Gryllus, “I just happened to be 
there, and saw how late it was getting. And I hadn’t 
anything special to do, so I offered, if they could stick on. 
And if you’ll believe it, madam, they stuck!” He was 
wiggling his horns at a terrific rate and Betty felt sure 
they were hurting him dreadfully. 

52 


Bad Earth and Good and Little Prisoners of Hope 

‘‘He gave us his horns to hang onto/’ said Billy, 
“that’s how we could.” 

“Well, welll” said Her Highness, more and more sur- 
prised, “you ought to be very grateful indeed to Mr. 
Gryllus. For that was doing a great deal for you!’’ 


S3 



F lying a little to one side and just above them, 
the Princess Dulcinea led the way along the 
Avenue of the Hives, with Billy and Betty and Tatkin 
following, all close together and holding onto each other, 
you may be sure. They had a feeling that they wanted 
to keep very close together all of the time, and run no 
risk of losing sight of each other for an instant, in this 
queer world. Mr. Gryllus left them without saying any- 
thing — or at least he stayed behind and they left him, so 
taken up with his horns, which he was still working and 
wiggling that they did not feel like disturbing him. 

54 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

'It was very good of Gryllus, of course/' said Her 
Highness, as they went along, "to bring you over. But 
what a way to travel! And then he is so unreliable; 
his tribe are a regular vagabond set — good enough in 
their way of course, but very quarrelsome among them- 
selves, and queer. We must find some other way of get- 
ting you about." She looked down at them where they 
crept along, evidently very much astonished that any- 
thing could go so slowly. "Surely," she added, ''surely 
you can't be left just to your own powers of locomo- 
tion!" 

"Lo-co-mo-tion," repeated Billy, "what is that?" 

"Locomotion? Why, going ahead, to be sure. Get- 
ting yourself somewhere." She looked down at them 
again and then went on. "I don't wonder that you didn't 
know, though — you have so few of them. My stars, I 
should think you would go crazy. Only two legs and 
they not long; and no wings! How on earth do you 
ever get anywhere?'' 

" 'Patkin has four," said Betty, rather crestfallen at 
being so regarded and wishing to make a more favorable 
impression, "and we have our arms." She waved hers 
over her head and at the same time took a hop-skip to 
show how nimble she was. But the Princess did not 
seem to think much of it; and when Betty watched her 
beautiful wings beating the air so lightly, and carrying 
55 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

her along so easily, without her getting the least out of 
breath no matter how fast she worked them, she felt 
that she could not blame her. It must be wonderful 
to have wings, she knew; and everything else, even six 
legs, was of small consequence compared to them. She 
decided to change the subject. 

‘'Mr. Gryllus has been lovely to us all the afternoon,'^ 
she said, “don’t you suppose he would stay around all 
the time, if you asked him to ?” 

“Perhaps,” said Her Highness, then gave a little sniff, 
“and then again, perhaps not. You can’t tell. I’d much 
rather have one of my kinsfolk — some one really depend- 
able, you know.” 

“Oh, yes. Your Highness,” said Betty, quite awed by 
this calm assertion of merit. At the same time she felt 
very sorry at being deprived of Mr. Gryllus’ cheerful 
company — and she wondered just what sort of person 
would be called upon to take his place. Her thoughts 
were broken in upon, however, by a sweet, low sound 
that the princess was making; and she looked up at her, 
fascinated by it. 

“Try it,” said Her Highness, circling around to keep 
from leaving them behind, “I want you to learn it.” 

Obediently Betty tried it; and then Billy and then 
’Patkin. But neither of them came near it — except 
’Patkin, and he was not very near. “Try it again, after 
S6 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

me,” said Dulcinea, and repeated it. And they tried it 
again ; and again, and again, until at last they began to 
make a sound that resembled it. 

'It’s the clan call,” explained the Princess, "and you 
must practice it until you can do it without any trouble — 
for if you find yourselves in danger or lost or anything 
like that, you have only to sound it to bring every clans- 
woman around for a great distance, to your aid. Do it 
again !” 

Really it was wonderful the way she taught it to them, 
when you think that she had a mouth quite different 
from theirs — or that they had mouths quite different 
from hers — and that their voices were stored in quite a 
different voice-box. But of course she had no end of 
patience and perseverance, and such a way with her that 
they thought they were learning it quite easily. And. 
when at last she led them into the midst of a lovely bower 
of some kind of growth they had not seen before, and 
settled down on a great blossom that nodded at one side, 
they could give a very good imitation of it. 

"I must go now,” she said, after she had heard them 
several times over — and corrected Tatkin, who had 
trouble not to sound the call too deep in his throat as 
he sounded his own growl — "you will be safe here for 
the night. There is still an hour of light, but I cannot 
take the time to visit you again, so I must ask you to 
57 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

stay here, and not leave until I come, with the morning/* 

‘'Do you bring the morning?** asked Billy. 

“Oh, no ! I come with it, though — at the same time, I 
mean.” 

Betty was looking around a little anxiously. “If you 
please. Your Highness,** said she, “can you tell me where 
I will find our tea?** 

“Your what?** 

“Our tea — our supper, you know. I — I didn*t see any 
table set, but I’ll set it. I can do everything like that, 
for I always did for mother. I can get supper, too, if 
you’ll tell me where the cupboard is.” 

“My goodness!” said the Princess, staring at her, 
“what are you talking about, child?” 

Betty stared back at her, quite forgetting that she was 
a princess for the moment, in her wonder at not being 
understood. Then she said hastily, lest she had been 
rude, “I beg your pardon — but Billy always has some- 
thing to eat early — ” 

“Oh — ho!” interrupted Dulcinea, “something to eat! 
Why didn’t you say so? All this talk about a table! 
What’s that got to do with it ? Why do you beat around 
the bush so? Here’s something to eat — and here, and 
here ! All around there’s any amount of delicious food. 
Just help yourselves.” 

She had flown with a little buzz from one clover head 

58 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

to another and another as she spoke, pointing down into 
them. Then she suddenly stopped and looked puzzled. 
''But to be sure,” said she, "how are you going to get up 
to them? No wings! — only two legs! — can't walk ex- 
cept right side up! Bless me! How^s it to be man- 
aged?” 

She thought a moment, then made a little sound some- 
thing like the call she had just taught them; and right 
away Dulciana appeared, with two or three others, and 
alighted on clover heads. She explained the difficulty; 
and Her Highness Dulciana laughed a little. 

"Why, that is very easy,” said she, "come, all gather 
here beside me and I'll show you.” 

They did; and of course their weight toppled the 
clover blossom away down so far that it touched the 
ground. "Now come and help yourselves,” she told the 
children, "while we hold it. Every urn is half full — 
probably you call them flowerets. Stick your heads in 
as far as you can; or get at it somehow. You'll have to 
find a way.” 

They had a dreadful time ! For of course the nectar 
was carefully hidden and would not run out just because 
the flowerets were upside down; and they could not get 
their heads into them, naturally. But at last Betty 
thrust her arm into the depths of one and gave a deter- 
mined push, — and that tore away the little cover that 
59 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

held it back — and she was deluged with the sweet fluid 
as it poured forth. 

^ Well/’ said Dulcinea. guess you’ve found it now ! 
You’ll have to go about it a little more carefully.” 

Which she did; and at last they succeeded in opening 
as many of the flowerets as they wanted to, and drinking 
as much nectar as they could possibly hold. And then 
the two princesses and the ladies-in-waiting unfurled 
their wings and started to sail away, with pleasant ''Good 
nights,” and "See you when morning comes,” and so on. 
But Betty spoke up again. 

"Oh, just a moment. Your Highnesses,” she cried, 
"but — if you please, where are we going to sleep? 
Where are our beds — or our cribs ? And what are we to 
do for blankets ?” 

''Now what is she talking about?” asked Princess 
Dulcinea, almost out of patience, "can’t these poor 
creatures even go to rest without being shown how? 
Really, this is too much !” 

"Your Highness,” broke in ’Patkin with great dignity, 
"permit me to explain that these my friends and 
charges are children — not full grown members of the 
human tribe. And it is the custom among that tribe to 
tend their young very carefully, even as you tend yours, 
and to watch over them and provide them with every- 
thing until they are quite full fledged. Which seems to 
6o 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

me a matter for praise rather than for criticism — or for 
merriment/’ and he cast a very stern look around on the 
ladies-in-waiting, who had been giggling among them- 
selves. 

Neither Betty nor Billy would have dared to speak so 
to her, a princess of the royal house of Apis; but 
Tatkin explained to them later that, as a matter of fact, 
every member of her tribe was always descended from a 
queen, if not from the reigning queen — and what was 
more, he did not propose to have her nor any one else 
making merry at their expense, or criticizing them, 
royalty or no royalty ! 

The rebuke was effective; and every one tried to look 
as if she had not criticized or giggled, whatever her com- 
panions had done. And the Princess Dulcinea said very 
seriously, ^'What are we going to do? Our guests must 
have a place of rest provided for them — ” 

''Jtist as you have your hives,” said Tatkin, ^'provided 
by their tribe, for yours.” 

"'Exactly! To be sure! Just as we have our hives. 
The question is, where can we house them? Where will 
they rest, safe and secure, as all things should be at night 
time?” 

This started a great hubbub; from which any one 
could see with half an eye that here was a question that 
had never come before the people of the Apis kingdom 
6i 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

before. Others of the clan gathered; and every one 
tried to talk at the same time ; and really, pandemonium 
reigned, as they say in the newspapers of conventions 
and political meetings. 

The three looked on and waited; and presently they 
heard one voice above all the rest, saying over and over 
again, ^^Over beyond Columbine, over beyond Colum- 
bine — And the speaker said it so continually that 
finally others began to hear her ; and gradually the com- 
motion grew less, and one after another turned towards 
her. 

‘^Over beyond Columbine — over beyond Columbine — 
there is a cavern T she shouted at last. ‘T know it, I saw 
it when I visited her. Over beyond Colum — ’’ 

‘'Over beyond yonder scarlet-hooded Columbine?'’ 
asked Dulciana, sharply. 

"Yes, Your Highness — ^beyond yonder scarlet-hooded 
Columbine. And it is a dry and lofty cavern where I 
know our friends will find safe shelter. Indeed, it's not 
unlike the dwellings of the Hive Providers, one of which 
— as you all know — I entered once, by mistake to be sure, 
nevertheless I went in; and from end to end of the 
great cells or chambers there I wandered, too, before 
ever I got out. But at last I did get out, thank fortune ! 
And so I speak with some authority I think, on how they 
live.” 


62 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

Billy’s eyes danced — and so, too, did Betty’s* To live 
in a cave ! — was that not what they had always secretly 
wanted? ‘Ts it a really, truly cavern — a cave in a 
rock?” asked he, when he could get the question in. 

‘'Yes, indeed,” answered the lady-in-waiting, “right 
in the rock.” 

“Conduct them thither, Lady Aea, then — if you 
please,” commanded Dulcinea, “and thank our stars, all 
of us, thafs settled. Good night, friends.” 

It was indeed a lovely cavern, big and high and dry. 
What is more, it had a splendid, prickery chestnut burr 
lying open and empty right in the middle of it — the very 
thing for a bed, as Betty at once exclaimed. “You can 
have one half and I the other,” said she, climbing up the 
side by means of the spines that covered it, to look in, 
“and ’Patkin can go on both sides, and be with both of 
us — one, part of the time, and the other, part of the 
time. Oh, it’s just bee — yu — ti — ful !” She came back 
down again, and looked around; and the Lady Aea, who 
was waiting politely to see that everything was all to 
their liking, saw that she wanted something. “What is 
it?” she asked. 

“Mattresses — and covers,” said Betty; “what am I to 
do for those?” 

“Oh — of course. I ought to have known that,” Aea 
was quite disgusted with herself, “there’s the very thing 

63 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

right here — not a wing-flap away — any amount of dan- 
delion down/’ 

She stayed by Billy and Tatkin while Betty went over 
to the place which she pointed out to her, and brought 
armful after armful, and packed it down into the chest- 
nut burr. And then she too went away, after every- 
thing was fixed for the night, and Betty had brought for 
blankets and sheets some deep pink petals, just like silk, 
that blew down in front of her from a poppy flower 
as she was making her last trip. 

And into bed they climbed, tumbling over onto the 
soft down with delight, and making regular little nests 
in it, with Tatkin jumping from one to the other in the 
wildest kind of a romp. 

They had just settled down to go to sleep, when they 
heard Mr. Gryllus calling to them. Betty stuck her 
head up over the side of the crib, and answered, ‘Talloo ! 
Here we are, Mr. Gryllus — up here, gone to bed in this 
big burr.” 

‘Well,” said he as he sidled into the cavern and looked 
around, “this is something like. I was uneasy about you 
— for the Chlsenius are out — and they’d make short 
work of all three of you.” 

“Mercy! Who are the Chlaenius?” they cried. 

“Oh, they’re a wild set of hunters that track their 
game all night, after honest folks are abed — good 
64 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

friends of your tribe, in their way, but bad people for 
you to meet while you’re this size. For they don’t care 
who they kill; they’re an awfully reckless crew!” 

‘'Oh, dear ! Won’t they find us anyway?” cried Billy. 

“No, they won’t bother if you’re not running about. 
You just stay up there where you are and go to sleep — 
and don’t think anything more about them. Or if you 
think about them, just remember that they are on guard 
before your cavern door, and that nothing else can come 
and harm you, with them there.” 

“Are you sure?” asked ’Patkin, “don’t you think I 
ought to sit up?” 

“Of course I’m sure,” snapped Mr. Gryllus, “didn’t I 
tell you they only hunt after honest folks are abed? 
And aren’t you abed ? Well — then stay there !” 

“But what about yourself?” asked ’Patkin, a trifle 
offended. 

“Well, I’ll ’tend to myself. I’m bigger than they; 
don’t you worry.” 

Which was the last word out of him for that night; 
and before very long they were fast asleep, though ’Pat- 
kin did keep one eye half open, all the night through. 
He was used to that, however, and so did not mind. 

A Sunbeam found them out in the morning, and came 
right in and peeped into their eyes, very mischievously. 
And they were up in a hurry, you may be sure, clamber- 

65 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

ing out of their funny bed to bathe in the pools of dew 
that Columbine very kindly shook down for them, just 
outside the cave. And then off they started to the bower 
where they had supped — so hungry — oh, so hungry ! 

‘‘I wish I could have some oatmeal,’^ said Billy, as 
they went along, do declare, it feels as if something 
was just gnawing in me, like Tatkin gnaws on his bones. 
Do you s’pose we could find some oatmeal?’’ 

Betty looked very serious — and felt very serious, for 
she was hungry, too, and troubled because she was pretty 
sure they would not be able to find any. ‘‘I don’t know,” 
said she slowly, ‘'but if we can’t, we will find something 
else. I’m sure, Billy dear. It’s prob’ly too early for 
princesses to be up yet, so — ” 

"Too early,” gasped the Lady Aea’s voice from just 
beside them, "well, don’t let them hear you saying any- 
thing like that, my dears. Too early! Why they’ve 
been out for hours — hours!'* 

They looked around quickly, and there she was, poised 
on a clover blossom again. "I’ve been waiting for you,” 
she went on, "ever and ever so long. For you see we 
remembered,” here she gave ’Patkin a significant look, 
"that you must be served with food again, with the com- 
ing of morning.” 

"Oh, dear Lady Aea ! Aren’t you good to us,” cried 
Betty, "and we are so hungry !” 

66 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

‘Well, come along then,” said she, and flew ahead 
until they reached the clover bower. And there she 
called some of her sisters to help her; and once more the 
children and Tatkin drank deep of the clover nectar, 
while the flowers were held down for them. They drank 
a great deal more, too, than they had taken the night 
before — yet somehow, they did not feel satisfied. 

‘T wish we could have some oatmeal,” said Billy again, 
looking into the floweret from which he had been drink- 
ing, with a little frown on his face, “this is awfully 
sweet, isn’t it?” 

“S-sh,” warned Betty, “don’t say anything to hurt 
anybody’s feelings, Billy. You know it isn’t polite to 
find fault with what you have to eat when you’re visit- 
ing — nor to ask for anything that isn’t given to you. 
Probably they haven’t any oatmeal.” 

’Patkin listened attentively, and said nothing for a 
few moments ; but at his fourth drink of nectar he took 
a long breath and almost shivered. “I can’t help it,” 
said he in answer to Betty’s warning look, “I can’t drink 
another bit. This is no kind of food for a dog!” 

She was much relieved to see that no one had heard 
him except herself and Billy. The Lady Aea and the 
others were busy with still another clover head, bringing 
it down where they might drink from its flowerets — 
but they could not drink another bit, as a matter of fact! 

67 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

She tried to think of a nice way of telling them so. 

''I guess we won’t have any more now, thank you,” 
said she, ‘'it’s — it’s rather early yet, for us to drink a 
great deal. Perhaps — ” 

“Oh, then you don’t eat as soon as you get up?” said 
her ladyship in surprise. 

“Well, yes — we do. But we’ve had enough now, 
thank you.” 

“Very well, then,” she dismissed those who were help- 
ing at the flower head, with a wave of a wing, “when 
will you wish something more, may I ask? I will come 
back whenever you say.” 

More of that sweet drink! Ugh! — would they ever 
want any more of it? Betty was afraid they would not. 
“I don’t quite know,” she answered, “couldn’t I call you? 
Mightn’t we make the call?” 

“Why certainly,” she began to unfurl her wings and 
set them to going, slowly, “whenever you’re ready. So 
ril be off to my work, if you’ll excuse me.” 

They decided to go for a walk, not feeling very lively 
after such a breakfast; and with Billy between his sister 
and ’Patkin, as they usually walked, they set off, in the 
direction of the sun. They had not gone very far — 
perhaps six or seven feet, really, though it seemed to 
them at least a block or more — before an angry voice 
said, somewhere high up in the air, “Well, I say that if 
68 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

we went on hunger strike perhaps a little attention would 
be paid to our bills of fare — and we might get some- 
where near what we want 

It was a very cross voice indeed; and they stopped 
stock still and looked everywhere, trying to make out 
who had spoken. But a dead silence followed the speech 
— one of those very still times when everybody can 
hear his own heart beat, and is wondering what on 
earth is going to happen next. This proposal was a 
surprise and a shock to every one who had heard it, no 
doubt. 

After a moment though there came a very high, sil- 
very, well-bred voice that instantly made them know 
its owner was a gentlewoman — and made them feel that 
the other speaker was not — which said, ‘"But a great deal 
of attention is paid to our bills of fare. I am sure we 
cannot fail to know that. And those charged with our 
care are not indifferent, by any means ; on the contrary 
they are most anxious. So of course none of us would 
willingly — nor wilfully — do anything to increase their 
anxiety — nor wish to do anything unkind, or annoy- 
ing/’ 

There came a little sigh at the end of the speech ; and 
suddenly Billy spied the one who had made it, all her 
dainty pink frills a-quiver, so lovely and delicate and 
fragile up there above them that he could hardly believe 
69 


Wonder days and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

she was real — a sweet pea blossom, nodding on her long 
stem. 

‘'Oh, see! — Look, sister! — Look, Tatkin! — 
That’s who it is,” he whispered, pointing, “isn’t she beau- 
tiful? Don’t you just love her?” 

“Isn’t she,” echoed Betty, “and indeed I do !” 

Which was the truth ; for no one ever yet looked at the 
lovely Countess Spencer — that’s who she was — without 
falling head over ears in love with her, instantly. 

A heavier voice broke in here. “You needn’t talk,” 
it said gruffly, ''you needn’t talk. Miss Salvia! Why, 
you can eat anything and thrive on it, and you know 
you can. Sweet, sour or savory, it’s all the same to 
you. That’s one reason why you’re so blamed popu- 
lar!” 

It was the Admiral who said this — 3l cousin of the 
Countess, and a ruddy faced old dog of a sweet pea, as 
one expects an Admiral to be ; and he was glaring across 
at Miss Salvia who stood on the other side of the path. 

As for her, she was scarlet ! And it did seem as if she 
began to realize that her attitude was in extremely bad 
taste. But of course she would not acknowledge it — 
which is about what might be expected! 

The Countess went on after a moment. “They will 
find out very soon now, I am sure — if we just go on and 
do as well as we can, and make the best of what we do 
70 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

get. Of course they are blundering terribly; but if they 
keep on trying, they are bound to strike it soon— for 
they will have been all the way through the list V She 
even laughed softly, a silvery little laugh. But plainly 
it was no laughing matter. 

‘'Dear me,’’ whispered Betty, “if they aren’t talking 
about eating, too. Isn’t it queer?” 

Softly as she spoke, the Countess heard her; and 
looked right down from her lofty place, and smiled. 
“Does it seem so, my dear?” she asked, “why is that?” 

Betty blushed at finding herself so suddenly spoken 
to, and at having been overheard when she made a per- 
sonal remark. But she answered freely just the same 
— for the Countess was so lovely that no one could be 
afraid of her, nor even embarrassed where she was, 
more than a jiffy. She had the way with her that makes 
one feel at home, right away. 

“Why, if you please, Countess,” said Betty, “I don’t 
exactly know why it seems queer — only that it does. 
Of course Miss Morning-glory told us yesterday some- 
thing about eating — and we’ve heard Alec talk about 
feeding them — you — I mean, the things in the garden. 
But I guess we never really believed it before; we 
thought he was just talking, the way he always does, 
you know.” 

The Countess nodded until her frilly cap fluttered 

71 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

about her face again. '‘Yes/’ said she, "I can under- 
stand. But Alec is a good gardener, you see — so after 
all, it isn’t all 'just talking.’ Oh, dear! I wish we had 
an Alec, or old Simon back, to tend us — he was a good 
gardener, too. The new one can’t seem to find the food 
we are longing for, oh ! — so much I” 

"Didn’t you have any breakfast either?” asked Billy, 
sympathetically. 

"We didn’t,” put in ’Patkin, by way of explanation. 

"Breakfast ? What is that ?” 

"Breakfast in the morning — what you eat first.” 

"Oh — do you eat first?” 

"We eat breakfast, and dinner, and tea — or supper,” 
explained Betty, "three meals a day.” 

"Oh,” said the Countess, "that’s it, eh? Now I un- 
derstand. You see, we don’t do just that way. We 
eat all of the time.” 

"All of the time?” Here was something stranger 
still! 

"Yes, indeed. But we eat very slowly. Perhaps it 
takes us all the time on that account.” 

That seemed a very good explanation. "Then I. 
s’pose you are eating your breakfast now,” suggested 
’Patkin. 

"Well, we are eating now, of course — after a fashion. 
But oh, my dears! We are so overfed with what we 
72 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

have, and we want what we want — which is what we 
don’t get — so badly, that I assure you it is sickening to 
have to eat at all !” 

‘Indeed it is,” put in the Admiral, “and that’s what we 
were talking about when you came along.” 

“Why, that’s just like us, this morning,” exclaimed 
Betty, “we couldn't drink any more nectar — and we 
wanted oatmeal, or egg or something like that — or bread 
and butter. But there wasn’t a thing but nectar !” 

“Ugh !” shivered ’Patkin at the word. 

“You poor children,” said the Countess, “we know 
how to pity you.” 

“Indeed we do !” said the Admiral. 

“And we know how to pity you/' said Betty. Then 
a thought struck her. “Oh, Countess,” she cried, “per- 
haps we can help you. ’Patkin knows the new gar- 
dener — and when we get home, he could tell him what 
you want and ask him please to get it for you. This, 
you know,” she waved her hand around, “is ’Patkin’s 
Lady’s garden.” 

“Bless my soul,” exclaimed the Admiral, leaning way 
over to look at them sharply, “what are the sprites talk- 
ing about?” 

“Oh, we aren’t sprites,” said Betty hastily, “we’re real 
people — children, you know, that grow up to be men and 


women. 


73 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

'Tut, tut,’’ said he, looking displeased, "no nonsense, 
my dears — no nonsense. I’ve seen many a child in my 
day, and I know what children look like.” 

"But we are/' she insisted, "and we aren’t always 
little like this. I don’t mean to tell the gardener now 
— but when we get back.” 

"Back where?” asked the Admiral, severely. 

"Back home, sir.” 

"How do you go there?” 

"Well, we — why, I don’t know exactly, sir. But I 
think we’ll be going pretty soon — and then we’ll tell 
him, or ’Patkin will.” 

He looked very suspicious, but he said no more, for 
the Countess gave him a glance and spoke up herself. 
"Do you suppose it would do any good?” she asked. 
"Do you really suppose it would?” 

"Oh, yes,” cried all three very earnestly, "we’re sure 
it might. Do let us try, anyway.” 

"I believe I will,” said she wearily, "for really it is al- 
most killing us. Indeed, I am afraid it will kill some 
of us — for some are never as strong as others, you know, 
and get so discouraged! But do you suppose you can 
remember, if I tell you?” 

"Try us,” said they with one voice, "we’ll try!" 

"Good !” said she, nodding again. "That’s the way 1 

Now, just you listen, then say after me — Three things 

74 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

a plant must have to eat, As folks must have bread, cake 
and meat.’ ” 

They said it over. ^^Once more,” said she. And they 
said it again, all together. Then she stopped to explain 
a little. 

‘Tet us suppose,” she said, ‘let us suppose that you 
had to have just one of the things which you eat, for all 
the meals that you have said you eat every day — for 
breakfast and dinner and supper. Suppose you had to 
live on cake — rich chocolate cake for breakfast, and rich 
fig cake for dinner, and then some marshmallow cake or 
sponge cake for supper — with sweet cocoa to drink per- 
haps and nothing else — ” 

“Ugh!” said Billy, shivering as ’Patkin had done a 
moment before. 

“Or suppose you had nothing but sour things,” — put 
in the Admiral — “lemons and rhubarb and vinegar. 
How would you like that, do you suppose?” 

“It would be awful,” cried Betty. 

“Yet that is all we have had, for weeks!” said the 
Countess. 

“What ! — Nothing but rhubarb and lemons and vine- 
gar?” gasped Billy, horrified. 

“What amounts to the same thing,” said the Ad- 
miral in his deep gruff voice, “call ’em alum and quinine 
and asafetida, if you’d rather — anything your fancy 
75 


W onderdays and W onderways Through Flowerland 

may suggest. The name doesn’t mean very much, as 
I know of. Too much of any one thing is bound to be 
famine.” 

‘"How terrible,” said Betty, ^Vhatever can they be 
thinking of to give you such dreadful stuff !” 

‘They don’t know any better,” said the Countess, 
“they think food is food, no matter what kind it is — 
just as the princesses think with you — as if we had no 
tastes or choice! They come and look at us and say, 
T can’t understand it. These sweet peas have had 
quantities of fertilizer — and yet see how few blossoms 
there are.’ And they look so worried! That’s why 
I am not in favor of doing anything radical about it. 
They want to do what is right — and they talk and won- 
der; so we know their hearts are in the right place.” 

“I’m sure they do want to,” said Betty, “I know 
how anxious Alec always is to give everything just what 
it wants.” 

“Well, now we’ll begin again — and go a little further. 
You’ll find some words you may not have heard before. 
Be careful about them — and whatever you do, dont 
mix them up ! Ready? — we call it ‘A Bill of Fare.’ ” 

A BILL OF FARE 

“ Three things a plant must have to eat 

As folks have bread and cake and meat; 

Also, they like a dash of Lime, 

76 


Hunger Walks and Famine Stalks 

For flavoring from time to time. 

Nitrogen’s the special ration. 

For that class of vegetation 

You eat the tops of — and its source 

Is bedding from stable of cow or horse. 

Plants grown for flowers need much Phosphate, 

Or you in vain for flowers will wait ; 

This comes in bone-meal — awful smelling I — 

Not nice to have around a dwelling. 

All kinds of fruit require Potash; — 

This is in wood when burned to ash — 

So hardwood ashes all fruits delight: 

How strangely things differ in appetite 1’ ” 

^Well — I should say they did,” broke in Betty at the 
last line. 

‘‘Wait,” said the Countess, “that’s not all; and this 
last is very important. It has to do with just our case, 
you see; we’ve had too much of the two that we don't 
need, and hardly a bit of the one that we do. See if 
you can tell which it is we are suffering for. Notice 
carefully, now: 

'One part Nitrogen, Phosphate two. 

Three parts Potash — that’s the menu, — 

This proportion of each ingredient 
In the diet of plants is most expedient : 

Unless you choose, at special seasons. 

Or because they’re raised for special reasons. 

Leaf, flower, or fruit to stimulate, 

77 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

So that one or another grows specially great. 

Each will rob other, though, you’ll always find. 

Rank growth of leaves, leaves flowers behind — 

Where flowers amaze folks, they’re so many. 

Fruit’s mostly poor, or there’s not any !’ ” 

‘There’s quite a good deal of it, isn’t there?” said 
Billy, sighing. 

“Not a word too much,” cried ’Patkin, “there never 
can be too much about eating! And I’m going to put 
the proper foods for a dog into poetry, when I’ve studied 
it a little more.” 

“Well, I wish our proper foods were written down, or 
that we could tell their Highnesses Dulcinea and Dul- 
ciana about them, some way,” said Betty as she looked 
up at the sun and saw that it was growing near noon. 
“What do you suppose we will have to eat for our din- 
ner?” 

“Poor little folks,” said the Countess, shaking her 
head, “and poor doggie ! I wish we could help you.” 

“And we wish we could help you/' they cried as they 
started back along the path. 

“Well, just that helps some,” called the Admiral’s 
gruff voice after them. 


78 



OUTLAWS AND OVERLORDS 

T hey had gone only a little way when they caught 
sight of something coming in the distance — dash- 
ing headlong toward them in the wildest fashion; and 
as Tatkin paused, Betty and Billy did also, naturally 
enough. They watched it a moment; and then Billy 
opened his mouth to say 'What can be the matter, do 
you suppose but just at that instant it turned sud- 
denly and came full tilt in their direction — and came so 
fast that it bumped squarely into Betty and almost 
knocked her over. 

Tatkin sprang toward it with a fierce growl. 'What 
do you mean?’’ demanded he. 'Where are your man- 
ners, I’d like to know. Why didn’t you go on the way 
you were going, you lunatic — then you wouldn’t have 
run into her. Of all the clumsy, inexcusable — ” 

"Oh!” screamed Betty as the creature reared itself 

79 


Wonder days and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

and held up a pair of awful looking things like pincers, 
reaching at Tatkin with them. ''Oh, Tatkin! Never 
mind. Tm not hurt a bit; and this — this — person is in 
such a hurry; probably he — it — didn’t see me.” She 
edged over in front of him — or tried to — and turned to 
it with a curtsey. "It’s nothing,” said she pleasantly, 
though her heart beat wildly, for the thing was quite as 
large as ’Patkin and evidently very short tempered, "it’s 
really nothing. And please don’t mind what ’Patkin 
said. He was excited because he was ’fraid I was hurt, 
I guess.” 

"Don’t — don’t stop me,” came the impatient answer, 
"of course I’m in a hurry. I’m always in a hurry — and 
just now! — If I weren’t I’d — oh, I’d — .” It dashed 
at ’Patkin again with the ugly looking pincers out- 
stretched and opening and shutting fiercely. "Well, 
I’d—.” 

"You’d what?” demanded ’Patkin, bristling and 
glaring, "just what, now. I’d like to know? Tell 
me!” 

"’Patkin,” cried Betty, "leave it alone ! Don’t get into 
any arguments with anything. Never mind any more 
about it — and come on.” 

"Oh, I’ve no time for fighting — or fooling. And 
you’re no account anyway — alive. And not much ac- 
count — dead.” This with something between a sneer 
8o 


Outlaws and Overlords 

and a jeer as it ran about back and forth, in nervous 
haste. 

This was not a very pleasant thing to say, whatever it 
meant; and Betty wished it would go on if it was in such 
a rush. ‘‘Don’t let us detain you any longer,” said she, 
beginning to move olf in the direction they had been go- 
ing, tugging at Billy who in turn tugged at Tatkin — 
who was still very much enraged, but nevertheless al- 
lowed himself to be pulled along slowly, “good after- 
noon.” 

“Well, I’ve good reason to be in a hurry — and nerv- 
ous,” said the stranger, “I have a great deal to attend to; 
and I don’t see why any one should get in my way.” 

“Well, it’s not very reasonable to expect everything to 
move, and always get out of the way to give you a free 
track,” said Mr. Gryllus’ voice, as he jumped into sight 
from his hiding place under a clump of greenery. 

“Who cares about being reasonable?” snapped the 
thing, “all I want is to get there.” 

“Well, nobody’s hindering you now,” said Mr. Gryllus 
— and winked at the children. 

“Ah — gh !” gurgled the creature, and raised up at him 
and snapped the pincers in a rage, “ah — ^gh !” And then 
it turned and ran. 

“I don’t know what ails ’em,” said Mr. Gryllus as they 
watched it racing out of sight, “but they always are like 
8i 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

that — ^and they always run like all get out! Some- 
thing's the matter with their nerves, I guess." 

‘Well, who is it, Fd like to know?" asked Tatkin with 
a good deal of disgust in his tone. 

“That happens to be Skurry, of the Formicas. You 
remember you saw one yesterday, dashing through the 
grass where I first saw you. And as you are likely to 
meet them anywhere, and any time, I must warn you to 
be on the lookout — and always to get out of the way if 
they are coming toward you, for they never bother to 
turn out." 

“Well, this one wasn't coming toward us, at first. But 
it turned when it got most past, and ran right at us," 
said Billy. 

Mr. Gryllus waved a horn. “Exactly!" said he. 
“That's just what they are apt to do. You never can 
tell." 

“Then I don't see how you can keep out of their way," 
said Betty, beginning to laugh, “anything as crazy as 
that!" 

“Well, you can't be sure you're going to," answered 
Mr. Gryllus, laughing too, “just try. That's all. And 
if they run into you, don't stop to argue. You never 
can tell when there may be a lot of 'em around — and 
if they get after you, you'd be in a bad way." 

“Could they hurt us ?" asked Billy. 

82 


Outlaws and Overlords 

gracious ! They’d kill you in no time — and then 
eat you up,” answered Mr. Gryllus, ‘'they’re a; bad lot 
when they get on the warpath. Why, it’s nothing for 
them to fight their heads right off of their bodies !” 

“Oh!” gasped Betty. “That’s what I’ve seen ants 
do. Oh — I’ll bet they are ants! Aren’t they?” 

“Don’t ask me what your tribe calls them,” answered 
Mr. Gryllus, “like enough it’s ants — though I shouldn’t 
suppose they were any relation.” 

“Dear me,” she explained hastily, “it’s not that kind 
of ant. And they aren’t any relation. I’ve heard Mrs. 
Bell at the Orphanage, though, call ’em a nuisance.” 

“ Well, that’s what I call ’em,” said Mr. Gryllus, de- 
cidedly. 

Along came another just at that instant, running at top 
speed, and not quite sure of the direction it would fol- 
low — and so running a little way to the right and then a 
little to the left. And before it was out of sight, two 
more — and then one and another and then a company of 
several— appeared and hurried past. “Something’s up, 
I guess,” said Mr. Gryllus, “they’re more excited than 
usual.” 

He was right ; for very soon there appeared a whole 
procession, running pell mell and each carrying a white 
bundle. Right in front of Betty though, one laid hers 
down — and began washing her face with her paws, lick- 

83 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

ing them just like a cat. After watching her a moment, 
Betty could stand it no longer, but spoke to her. 

'If s a very nice day,” said she, for want of anything 
else to begin a conversation, "have you been shopping?” 

"Oh, that’s the trouble — these nice days,” was the 
answer in a worried and hurried voice, "they come out 
and fuss around and upset everything — and make us 
such an amount of work! WeVe got to get these chil- 
dren moved and the new nurseries aren’t ready — and 
oh, dear! It’s just awful!” 

That was not exactly answering her question, but 
Betty tried again. "Children,” said she, "where are 
they? I’d like to see them.” 

"Well, here’s one. And there go the others.” She 
kept on with the touches to her toilet, and Betty looked 
all around. ’Patkin went toward the bundle, thinking 
perhaps that he detected an odor of meat. "Here, you !” 
she shrieked so unexpectedly that they all jumped — and 
then she dashed at him just as Skurry had done, bran- 
dishing a similar pair of pincers, "keep away from that. 
How dare you?” 

"I beg your pardon,” said ’Patkin; "I meant no harm, 
I assure you.” 

"Well, you keep away anyway,” was the cross an- 
swer ; and she picked the bundle up and moved it over a 
little — then went back to her slicking and grooming, 

84 


Outlaws and Overlords 


‘'it may be only one child out of a thousand or several 
— but every one counts. You let it alone.’’ 

“Child!” gasped Betty, too astonished not to. 

“Child ? — Why, yes, to be sure. What’s the matter 
with youf 

Betty looked at Billy and Billy at Betty — and they 
both looked at ’Patkin and he at them. Then he sniffed 
towards the white bundle again, without going near it 
however ; and nodded his head. 

“Oh — h — nothing,” said Betty, in a breathless, halt- 
ing way, “nothing’s the matter.” 

“Well, you’re fortunate! Plenty is the matter with 
us! I never remember, in any of our tribal legends, 
hearing of a colony so bothered as we are, and have been ! 
I don’t know how many times we’ve had to move — and 
now they are at it again.” 

“At what?” asked ’Patkin, trying to speak affably, 
though he disliked her intensely. 

“At tormenting us!” she snapped, “destroying our 
flocks, and teasing and tormenting the earth and ruin- 
ing our abode. Ugh! The wretched, useless crea- 
tures !” 

“Who is doing this,” asked Betty, very much inter- 
ested. 

“Who? Why, who does everything like that? Who 
but the tribe of MEN to be sure— great clumsy Over- 

85 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

lords ! Why in the world they can't let us alone, to pur- 
sue our ways in peace, is beyond me ! But they can't — 
or they don't, which amounts to the same thing. They're 
forever rummaging around, and interfering with 
things." 

She picked up her bundle and hurried away after 
saying this, with never another look at them, nor a word 
of farewell. ‘Well," said Betty, looking after her, 
“she's not very polite." At which Mr. Gryllus laughed 
long and loudly. 

For a long time the procession of hurrying Formicas 
kept passing; but at last the very last one was past and 
running on out of sight — and the children decided they 
would like to go and see the place they came from, and 
what manner of catastrophe it was had upset them so. 
So they started off, Gryllus warning them to keep to the 
deepest shadows and heaviest growth. 

They went quite a distance before they heard the 
thundering noise which they knew meant the footsteps 
of a man somewhere near. Then they went more and 
more carefully, creeping from shelter to shelter and 
watching, and stopping to listen every step or two ; and 
presently, as they paused near a delicious spice Pink, 
something fell onto the path right in front of them. 

“Oh, my roots and branches !" they heard, in an angry, 
bitter voice, “what wouldn't I give to be revenged on 
86 


Outlaws and Overlords 

you, you masterful being you! And on you, all you 
pretty-faced, smiling, smirking plants 1 YouVe no more 
right here than I have ! A-ha 1 Won’t I get even with 
you for this — all of you? I’ll show you — or if I don’t, 
some of my fellows will. You'll be sorry !” 

‘^Indeed they will,” said other biting and angry tones, 
‘'we’ll be even, never fear, my good pal. They may oust 
us ; but our kindred are many. And always they must 
work and work and work, and watch and sweat, if they 
are to keep ahead of old Plantain and old Ragweed — 
eh ? The over-bearing creatures ! How I despise them 
all! Overlords and mincing, weakly plants they cul- 
tivate.” 

“Why, I do believe it’s that old Plantain talking to that 
horrid Ragweed,” said Billy, as they watched from their 
place of concealment. The two weeds lay prone in the 
dust of the walk, uprooted but a moment before, it would 
seem. And they were certainly in a fine rage at every- 
thing around — for they had hidden themselves so cun- 
ningly beneath the leaves of the flowering plants in the 
border that they had not an idea any one would ever 
succeed in finding them. 

There was commotion on every side, as a matter of 
fact — arguing and scolding and reviling that made the 
summery morning quite hideous with the sound of it. 
“My goodness,” said Betty, “I should think you’d be 
87 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

ashamed of yourselves ! Why, you jostle and crowd and 
act worse than anything I ever saw — even the pigs, when 
Alec feeds them/' 

Cries of ‘"Mind your business 'Who are you ?" "I 
mil get up there !" "Leave me alone — get out of my way, 
will you?" "It's my turn first! It's mine to have the 
first chance! I — I! — " "'Tis not! I won*t move 
over !" "Stop pushing me, you great big — " and so on 
rose on every side, and they listened in astonishment 
until they were very much disgusted indeed. "Who'd 
ever have believed it," said Betty; "if they hadn't heard 
it with their own ears? Whatever is going to become 
of such acting plants ?" 

No one answered or pretended to try to answer; but 
just then the Princess Dulcinea came singing into sight 
away up above, and they forgot the quarreling flowers in 
looking up at her. For she was accompanied by the 
most wonderful being they had yet seen — a monstrous 
creature on wings like herself, but very different from 
her, and many, many times larger. 

Wonder and admiration and awe filled them as they 
beheld the splendor of the great wings reaching away 
out on either side, and the brightness of the eyes that 
looked every way at once. And Mr. Gryllus, who was 
not far distant, exclaimed aloud, "The very fellow! 
That's a hne idea !" 


88 


Outlaws and Overlords 


Down came the princess and this beautiful stranger 
until they were so close that she could introduce him. 
Then she spoke. ^'Children/’ said she, ‘'this is Libellula 
— ^king of all kings in our kingdoms, hunter of hunters, 
destroyer of destroyers, whose speed is like the light- 
ning’s bolt, whose wings are tireless as the sun, whose 
eyes look up and down and back and to the front — 
and on every side as well. He will take care of you 
and guard you better than even we are able ; and he will 
bear you on his back wherever you may wish to travel. 
And I think Mr. Gryllus,” — here she smiled sweetly at 
him — or seemed to smile — “will agree that it is a much 
more suitable mode of travel for you, than he, or any 
one else, can offer.” 

“It is indeed,” answered Gryllus, looking up in his 
funny way, one horn wiggling nervously at the bare 
recollection of what he endured when they had clung to 
it so tightly, “it is indeed, the very ideal arrangement 
for them. And I congratulate you on bringing it about. 
Your Highness.” 

This was of course a very nice compliment to Libellula 
as well as to her Serene Highness Dulcinea; and both be- 
haved in the lofty manner which it is correct for royalty 
to assume upon being complimented. 

Then Betty stepped forward. “How do you do. King 
Libellula,” said she, bobbing her nicest curtsey very care- 

89 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

fully, ‘'we are most happy to meet you/' And, “How do 
you do. King Libellula," said Billy, following her and 
doing exactly as she had done, just as nearly as he was 
able — except that being a boy, of course he put his hand 
over his heart and bowed, “we are very pleased to have 
the pleasure of knowing you." And then came Tatkin, 
waving his great plume of a tail as he took his turn. 
“How do you do. King Libellula," said he, “we are 
highly honored by your graciousness." 

The great creature came down slowly at that, settling 
onto the earth beside them as gently as a snowflake; 
but Dulcinea kept on the wing, only waiting for these 
formalities to be over, apparently, to speed away to her 
duties once more. 

“Very nice little people," said the King in a hearty, 
rollicking kind of a voice, '^very nice, indeed — every one. 
It's going to be a pleasure to look after you, my dears, 
I am sure; a pleasure and a privilege. Didn't you find 
it so, Gryllus?" 

“Yes, I must say that I did," said Mr. Gryllus, “but 
that's only natural. Sire — for mine and their's have 
dwelt together for ages. With you, however — " 

“Tut, tut," said Libellula, “I and mine may be too wild 
to have kept them company as intimately as you; but 
I'm a democratic person, I am. And what's more, I'm 
a mixer; so I'm mighty glad of this chance. Every- 
90 


Outlaws and Overlords 

body ought to know everybody better. That’s what I 
say.” 

The Princess started away. ‘'Good-by, each,” said 
she, “ril expect you for supper, children; but until then 
I must attend to my work.” 

“Now, where do you want to go?” asked Libellula, 
after they had waved her out of sight, “get aboard — 
and wherever it is, we’ll set sail.” 

“Oh, if you please, your Majesty,” began Betty, but 
he interrupted her. 

“Just you call me by my name, without any handles,” 
said he, “I don’t want to be ‘majestied’ all the time, from 
morning until night.” 

“Yes, sir,” said she, and began over again. “If you 
please, sir — King Libel — I mean, Libellula — could we 
see this garden we are in ? I never heard plants quarrel- 
ing so or knew that they quarreled so, anywhere, in 
all my life. And I’d like to go all around and see what 
is the matter of ’em.” 

“Surely we can,” said he heartily, “come on. Get 
aboard.” 

He tilted one great wing down to the ground as he 
stood there, so they might walk up its shining surface 
like walking up the gangplank on to a boat. “Take your 
time, and get fixed all comfy,” he went on, “you needn’t 

91 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

be afraid of falling off, though. For, though I go pretty 
swiftly, I go smoothly, too.’’ 

They really felt quite safe, once they got up onto his 
broad back and were seated and could look about. For 
his wings came away out on either side, and between 
them it was nicely flattened, right where they wanted to 
sit; and his coat was not at all shiny like Mr. Gryllus’ 
shell armor, but nicely furry, so they would not slip 
around. 

He waited until they got everything fixed just as they 
wanted to be. Then he said, ‘‘Ready?” And they an- 
swered as they had answered Mr. Gryllus, “Ready!” — 
pretty breathlessly, you may be sure, though they tried 
to hide this. And then he rose. 

They waved at Mr. Gryllus, who waved back a horn 
at them and called that he would see them later; and 
then they just gasped as they went higher and higher. 

“Oh,” said Billy, “that’s the Orphanage, isn’t it, sis- 
ter — that’s the Orphanage, way over there.” 

“Yes,” said Betty, “that’s what it is. And here’s the 
white house where ’Patkin lives — isn’t it, ’Pat?” 

“Yes, yes,” said ’Patkin, trembling with excitement 
and delight, “and now we’re over the vegetable garden 
— and now the lawn — and now the rose garden — and 
oh! — oh! — there’s my precious Lady! It is, it is — 

“Sit still,” exclaimed Libellula, slowing down a bit 
92 


Outlaws and Overlords 

and looking very stern out of his great eyes that saw 
backward where they were sitting as well as forward in 
the way he was going, "'sit still! Are you out of your 
wits, to begin jumping around so ? Do you want to take 
a tumble yourself and give your young friends one as 
well? Tm amazed at youT’ 

As a matter of fact, Tatkin had gone quite out of 
his mind with delight, and jumped and wagged his tail 
wildly; and nothing in the world but good luck pre- 
vented his capsizing himself and Billy and Betty, all 
three, off on to the ground — good luck, and Libellula’s 
skilful management. He changed his course quickly 
enough to keep the dog balanced — but it was ticklish 
work. And Tatkin realized what risks he had brought 
upon them by his carelessness, as soon as the first joy at 
seeing his beloved mistress was over. 

‘‘Oh, dear little Betty,’’ said he, when he saw that she 
was crying — and that was what really brought him to 
himself — putting his head on her shoulder and looking 
at her very sorrowfully, “please forgive me. I didn’t 
think about anything but my dear Lady for a minute! 
But I ought not to have forgotten; and I wouldn’t do 
anything in the world to hurt you or Billy — for next to 
her, I love you. But when a dog sees his mistress, you 
know how hard it is for him to contain himself ! Espe- 
cially when he has not seen her for so long a time.” 

93 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

Betty flung her arms around him and hugged him 
tight. ‘1 know/’ said she, '‘but oh, Tatkin, darling! 
I never was so frightened in all my life! For if you 
had fallen, what would we have done? We could never 
have found you again, even if you weren’t killed.” 

"Oh, well,” said Libellula, noting with his keen eyes 
that ’Patkin was very much depressed at having been 
the cause of such a scare, "oh, well, you know, we 
could have found him. And it wouldn’t hurt him much 
— nor any one of you, for you’re so little and light, 
you wouldn’t fall hard. Doubtless you’d be rum- 
pled — but that would soon straighten out. So never 
mind.” 

Really he was a very kind-hearted monarch, this king 
of all the kingdoms in this part of the world — and very 
democratic, too. 

"If you want to go closer to her,” suggested he, after 
a moment, "suppose I take you down there on to one of 
those tall reeds that grow by the lily-pool. You can be 
near her, and watch her to your heart’s content — and yet 
be perfectly safe.” 

That was a suggestion that they eagerly accepted, you 
may be sure. ’Patkin whined with delight at the 
thought of it, and gave both the children a kiss, hur- 
riedly, out of the fulness of his heart. "I wish you knew 
her,” said he as they began to descend, "oh, how I wish 
94 


Outlaws and Overlords 

you knew her. Then you’d understand. And I wish 
she knew you.” 

Swinging down, Libellula darted this way and that 
above the water for a moment, and circled about; and 
then he floated along with them, nearer and nearer to the 
Lady, as she stood looking at a clump of Harebells, and 
almost brushed her pink cheek with one of his wings as 
he finally settled toward the reed he had spoken of. And 
she exclaimed, ^‘Oh! There’s that lovely dragon-fly 
again! You beautiful creature — aren’t you a big fel- 
low ? And don’t you do wonders in keeping the mosqui- 
tos away for me ? There’s hardly one any more ; indeed, 
there isn’t.” 

She looked right at him, and was indeed talking right 
to him ; and he chuckled as he came lightly to rest on the 
reed. ‘^You bet,” said he, ‘^there’d be plenty of the 
vampires if I weren’t around.” But she did not seem to 
hear that. Anyway she did not answer. 

They feasted their eyes on her ; and she was indeed a 
sweet and lovely Lady, with tender eyes and a smiling 
mouth that was yet not all smiles. ‘Tsn’t she beauti- 
ful?” said ’Patkin, trembling all over with the joy of 
being near her, ^'could any one help loving her?” 

^Tndeed, I don’t see how they could,” said Betty, giv- 
ing him an extra tight squeeze, ''she is beautiful, ’Patkin 
— and sweet. And I love her already.” 

95 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

do I,” said Billy, promptly. Whereupon Tatkin 
kissed them both again, eagerly. ^'That's the new gar- 
dener,’’ he whispered as a man came toward her, touch- 
ing his cap — a younger man than Alec and not quite so 
big a one, perhaps. *'Yo\x know the Countess spoke of 
him.” 

He was showing something to her — it looked like a 
branch of some plant — and they talked about it. 
like ver’ much-a to learn, if you plees, ma’m,” he was say- 
ing as he looked at her with soft, shy brown eyes, ‘1 same 
as policeman here, I t’ink. Mak-a’ de flowers to behave, 
so they no fight, no use-a bad word. You plees-a tell 
me how. I do all you say. No can leave-a by himself, 
dees-a flowers.” 

The Lady laughed and nodded, taking the branch from 
him. ‘That’s just the truth, Angelo,” said she, “that’s 
what a gardener is — a flower policeman, keeping the 
outlaws in order ; a guardian of the peace. And you are 
learning nicely. I’m glad to see. That looks very fine 
indeed — that border that you’ve done this morning. 
Now come here, and we’ll attend to these dahlias next. 
They’re an unruly lot. Dear me ! I hope things won’t 
get ahead of us again like this! It just ruins the 
garden.” 

“Why shouldn’t we be unruly. I’d like to know,” said 
one of the Dahlias very suddenly, “I don’t propose to 
96 


Outlaws and Overlords 

take the trouble to do anything that they don't make me 
do." 

'‘Neither do I," said another, with a chuckle, "it's no 
fun at all unless you can do the unexpected." 

'We're all just as wild, really, at heart, as anything — 
as you are, you big baby of a Daisy, you," said a third, 
looking down at something that was half hiding at her 
feet, "oh, I will not keep still about your being here. 
Why should I?" 

"But you aren't wild," said the Daisy, wrathfully, 
"none of you are wild at all. Fm the only wild, free 
thing among you !" 

There was a great jeering and laughing and scoffing 
at this, in which every plant in the garden joined — at 
least every plant that was within hearing. And through 
it there rose the greatest clamor of voices, every one 
claiming to be more wild than every other, as if this 
were the greatest distinction that plant families could 
enjoy. And of course, when you stop to think of it, 
perhaps it is. There is certainly something about hav- 
ing a beginning away back at the beginning of the world 
that is more inspiring than being obliged to confess a 
hothouse or a nursery start. 

The children and Tatkin were very much astonished 
at this dispute, and at the general lack of good feeling 
and good manners. "I do declare," said Betty, "I never 
97 


W onderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

would have believed it! If they behave like this, I 
should think they would have to do something with 
them/’ 

‘'Don’t you see that’s just what they are doing?” said 
Libellula, “all this forenoon they have been busy with 
them along the south border. And early this morning 
I overheard the Lady tell Angelo that after the Dahlias 
were ‘staked’ and ‘pinched out,’ they would go at the 
roses.” 

The Dahlias overheard him ; and they set up the great- 
est commotion among themselves, scolding and quar- 
reling, and behaving worse and worse. 

“What will they do with them ? What does ‘staked’ 
mean, and ‘pinched out’?” asked Billy. 

“Watch out; I’ll take you over where they are and you 
can see,” was Libellula’s answer. And straightway he 
rose and swept across the space between them and where 
the Lady and Angelo were now at work — and above this 
space he hovered, zig-zagging to and fro slowly, so that 
they could see and hear all that was going on. 

“You see, Angelo,” the Lady was saying, “every kind 
of plant grows at the tips of its branches, always. Can 
you remember that? You must — for all the rest that I 
am going to tell you starts at that. See here ! See this 
Dahlia — here is a branch, and here is a branch, and 
here — and here,” she pointed out each one as she men- 
98 


Outlaws and Overlords 


tioned them, Angelo looking on very earnestly, ‘^and 
here,’’ she went on, touching the middle and longest one, 
‘'is the main branch or trunk of the plant — the leader, 
that is ahead of all the rest, and will always keep ahead, 
gaining more and more on the others every day — unless 
something happens to it. It’s going to grow so fast 
indeed, that all these others will be starved because it 
will be stronger than they, and can and will take their 
food from them. So we are going to make something 

happen to it, Angelo — we policemen and make it 

give the others an equal chance. Can you guess what 
it is we shall do?” 

Angelo looked hard at it and then at the ground ; and 
then Billy leaned over and shouted, “Oh, I know ! Cut 
off its head, cut off its head !” and though he did not hear 
him they were sure, the young Italian looked up with a 
smile at last and said, “Maybe we no let him have-a de 
chance at all. We kill-a him, maybe?” 

She nodded. “Yes, we kill it — only we say we pinch 
it out — so.” And right down close to the little branches 
that surrounded this big, strong central branch, she 
pinched it out as she spoke. And the children heard 
every one of the little branches heave a sigh of relief, 
and whisper among themselves, ^^Now, maybe we shall 
get enough to make us grow.” 

“Now you do this with all these Dahlia plants,” said 

99 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

the lady, ‘^and that will keep them from getting so tall 
and top-heavy — and besides it will give them more 
branches to blossom on. Fd like to see them this year 
make full and bushy plants, instead of spindling up to 
the sky!"' 

‘That’s what they did last year,” explained Tatkin 
to the children, “such tall, sprawly things you never saw 
— for there wasn’t a stake strong enough to keep them 
upright.” 

“Here is one that I am going to cut back farther than 
that,” she called, standing in front of one that was 
already as high as her shoulders, and much heavier at 
the top than at the lower part, “see, Angelo? It will 
make it later in blossoming — ^but I’d rather wait for the 
flowers than have it in this shape.” 

“If you plees, ma’m, why you pinch-a him so much 
down?” asked the gardener, scowling and trying to 
make out her reason. It was more than he could guess, 
though, and he shook his head. 

In the way that the children already loved, she smiled 
at him, and explained. “What did I tell you about how 
plants grow?” she asked first, “where do they do their 
growing?” 

“Plants he grow at the top of his-a head,” said 
Angelo solemnly. Which made Billy and Betty laugh 
so hard that ’Patkin and Libellula joined in. 


loo 


Outlaws and Overlords 

‘^More than that/’ said the Lady, pointing to a side 
branch. 

‘^At the top of all his-a heads,” corrected Angelo. 

‘That’s right,” said she, “at the top of every branch — 
or the tip of every branch, which is just the same thing. 
Now this plant has a lot of branches away down here 
near the ground that are just little short, weak things 
— because up here, nearer the top, it has a lot more, as 
well as its main branch, to rob them of the food they 
need. These little, weak branches are just where I 
would like to have it begin to bush out, though — instead 
of at these upper ones. So in order to make them 
grow — ” 

“We must pinch-a all dese bigga branch out,” finished 
Angelo, eagerly. 

“Exactly! And that is something else you must re- 
member, Angelo. The branches next helozv the ones 
you cut ofif, are the branches that will grow; never the 
branches down below these. So if you want to make 
anything grow away down at the ground, pinch it out 
just a little above the ground — or cut it off, as old Simon 
showed you to cut off the hedge plants beyond the veg- 
etable garden that had grown top-heavy. You remem- 
ber ?” 

Angelo remembered; and so did ’Patkin. “I could 
get through that hedge anywhere a year ago,” said he. 


lOI 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

‘'but it’s branched so thickly right down to the ground 
now, since he cut it as old Simon showed him, that 
hardly a rabbit could get through.” 

They floated gently back and forth for awhile, watch- 
ing the garden work and noting how careful Angelo was 
to do exactly what the Lady had told him. “That boy 
is all right,” said Tatkin at last; “he’ll be a fine gar- 
dener in just a little while. I’m so glad to know it — 
for my Lady was troubled at losing old Simon, and the 
flowers have not all behaved their best — ^as we found out 
this morning when they were talking over their diet. 
But Angelo will soon know what to do.” 

“Really,” said one of the Dahlias that had been 
pinched out and staked — that is, tied to a nice green 
stake that had a bird carved on its top and painted all the 
bright colors of the living bird, “do you know, I feel a 
great deal better. After all, there is something about 
being orderly that is pleasanter than being disorderly; 
and I believe I’m not going to dislike it so much — 
when I get used to it.” 

The Daisy that was hiding at her feet, answered. 
“Anybody that doesn’t like everything in this garden,” 
said she in a voice of strongest conviction, “would be 
utterly wrong at heart. See how they have treated me ! 
Like one of the rightful residents — and I don’t have to 
hide any longer, for the Lady said I was to stay; and 
102 


Outlaws and Overlords 

what's more, she said, Welcome, little common Daisy. 
You've ventured in, now we will try and make you one 
with all the rest.' So you just wait and see what a plant 
I am going to become ! And what marvelous blossoms I 
am going to show! Why, it's just an inspiration to be 
in such a place as this." 

^‘Dear me," whispered Betty as she heard all this, 
‘^isn't it nice to have them learn better than to do as they 
were doing? Now I can begin to love them as I love 
the Countess and little Morning-glory. But who could 
love such rough, rude creatures as they were, when we 
heard them quarreling so?" 

‘‘Rain is coming," said Libellula, scanning the heavens 
with his all-seeing eyes, “and I suppose I ought to take 
you home, for it may not do you any good. He is likely 
to come in rollicking mood, and when that's his spirit, 
he isn't over gentle." 

“Indeed, yes — please take us home at once," cried 
Betty, “I don't know what would happen to us while 
we’re in this state, if even a single drop fell on us. 
Let us hurry 1" 

“Oh, there's plenty of time," said Libellula, “he won't 
arrive for fifteen minutes or more; and I must do a 
little work on the way. Don't worry, though; I'll see 
that you are under cover long before the first of his 
heralds are near." He seized some winged thing as he 
103 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

finished speaking, and in a trice had dropped the rem- 
nants of its lifeless carcass, without slowing down a bit. 
‘‘You see,” said he, “I have a pretty wide field to cover, 
and I have to be at it constantly if I am to get away with 
anything like the number of Anopheles and Musca and 
Culex and such, allotted to one of my size and speed and 
strength. But I manage to do my part, I think,” and 
again he caught something that was making frantic 
efforts to dodge him, and again the same performance 
was gone through with. 

Betty shivered. It certainly was not the pleasantest 
thing in the world, this savage hunting in midair; but 
then she reflected that the things he hunted were very 
great torments to everything else — something like wolves 
and bears and lions, that devour little children and 
grown-up people, too, if they get the chance. That made 
her feel better about it. Maybe, indeed, one of these 
mosquitos would have bitten Billy, or herself — or Tat- 
kin’s Lady — or Alec, or somebody that they cared a 
great deal for, and made them sick with chills and fever. 

And how the gnats and flies bothered the poor horses 
and cows, she remembered. It was a good and great 
work that he was doing, after all — this wonderful King 
Libellula, truly the dragon of the air, the terror of its 
lawless, wicked vagabonds — the destroyer, as Dulcinea 
had said, of destroyers; who, with his two pairs of 
104 


Outlaws and Overlords 


monstrous wings could go faster than the fastest rail- 
road train, and with his two thousand facet eyes could 
see into every part of the earth and heavens at once! 
He was quite awe-f ul to think about ; and she was thank- 
ful indeed that he was their friend and not their enemy 
— for over and over again she saw that whatever he 
chose to destroy, he destroyed. 

‘‘Now we’ll take another turn around the garden,” 
said he, interrupting her thoughts, “and then I’ll put you 
down right at your door. This sultry heat that comes 
ahead of Rain is a time when I am especially useful, you 
know ; for then Anopheles cling and cling and come out 
in greatest numbers. So I always like to get after them 
then, especially if there’s any one around to draw 
them.” 

They found the Lady and Angelo, the gardener, 
hurrying to tie up a great, weak growth of some sort — 
a vine they called it, and Betty said it looked to her like 
a Wistaria, but she was not sure; and it had not a word 
to say. Indeed, it seemed to be rather sulky, just as 
everything else had been, until they were disciplined into 
order and good manners. 

“I want it to climb up here first,” said the Lady, “and 
then run along there and blossom all the way under those 
windows. So we will do just the other way about than 
we did with the Dahlias, Angelo. Cut off all the side 
loS 


Wonder days and W onderways Through Flowerland 

branches — every one! — and that will make this top 
branch or leader do all the growing; which means that 
it will grow twice as fast, almost, as it would if left to 
itself. See how that is? It grows faster than the rest 
anyway; if we take away all but itself, it will get all the 
food, and grow faster still. Then when it has got to the 
top of the trellis, well let it branch, away up there — and 
these branches will run along under the windows and 
their blossoms will be just where I want them.’’ 

She smiled again at Libellula as she saw him dart by, 
and he dipped his wings to her; and then away he went 
for the Avenue of Hives, coming to earth before the 
cavern in just an instant, it seemed. 

‘Why, it isn’t far,” said Billy, as Betty helped him 
down. 

“Indeed, no — it isn’t more than a hundred feet,” said 
’Patkin. 

“But it would take us a good while to walk that far, 
now,” said Betty, shaking her head, “aren’t we fortu- 
nate to have such wonderful friends here? Thank you, 
dear good Libellula, for being so kind to us. We shall 
never forget it.” 

“I’ll be around when Rain has finished his visit,” said 
Libellula, “meantime, I’d stay well under cover, if I 
were you. These walks are turned into deep rivers that 
would be many times over your heads ; and it won’t be 
io6 


Outlaws and Overlords 

safe for you anywhere except in your high and dry 
cave, for some time after he has gone/’ 

^ We’ll stay in — close and snug,” they all cried. And 
so he waved them good-by, and soared aloft, winging 
back in the direction whence they had come, toward the 
pond and its rich hunting grounds. 

In just a few minutes Mr. Gryllus hopped in. 
^‘Hello,” said he, ''back in good season. I’ll keep you 
company during the storm; I don’t like getting my feet 
wet, myself.” 

Of course they had to tell him all about their wonder- 
ful visit to the garden; and seeing ’Patkin’s Lady; and 
everything that had happened since they left him, indeed. 
But during it all ’Patkin himself was very silent, sitting 
with a far away look in his eyes, and often sighing 
deeply. At last Betty went to him and put her arms 
around him. "What is the matter, dear old dogsie?” 
said she, "why are you sad?” 

"S — sh,” said he, "please don’t disturb me, Betty 
darling. I’m only just a little sad — and that’s to be ex- 
pected. For you see I am trying to remember every 
word my precious Lady said to the new gardener — and 
make it into poetry ! So I beg of you — ” 

She tiptoed away of course, and warned Billy and Mr. 
Gryllus. And they were very careful not to make very 
much noise or to talk very loudly, until ’Patkin himself 
107 


Wonder days and W onderways Through Flowerland 

rejoined them, wagging his tail hard and looking un- 
usually proud and happy. Then ''Did you get it done?” 
asked Mr. Gryllus, "if you did Til bet you're hungry. 
Making poetry is awfully hungry work, IVe been told.” 

"Yes, it's done,” said 'Patkin, "and I am hungry — ^but 
not so hungry as these two children must be. And what 
are they going to eat?” 

"Why, I've found some delicious nuts,” said Betty, 
"that the wind must have blown in. See, here is a lot 
of them.” And sure enough there was — a little pile of 
winged seeds of the maple, that had swirled around and 
lodged in the cavern, brought by the wind that came 
ahead of Rain. So they had a fine luncheon of these 
and then 'Patkin read them his doggerel, 

A PRUNING SONG 

At their tips plants always grow, 

This is the first thing you should know ; 

Then, when a shrub or plant’s bereft 
Of any portion, that that’s left. 

Grows faster to make up what’s gone, — 

Which is the reason any one 
That knows about it, can be sure 
Of doing just the thing to cure 
A choked-up plant, or one that’s spindly 
And run to top, and thin and dwindly : 

Out of the first kind you should prune 
A great many branches, just as soon 
As you are able, — right down to the ground 
I08 


Outlaws and Overlords 


Cut them off, within and around, 

Until the tangle is made thin. 

And air and sunlight can get in : 

The opposite thing is the thing to do 
When a plant’s too tall, and has too few 
Low side shoots, and is too weak 
To support itself, — for such you’ll seek 
To induce branching that’s strong and dense; — : 
So at the top you must commence. 

And cut it down to where you see 
The strong new branches ought to be; 

Cut it ’way down, for branches grow 
From those buds that are next below 
The place where you cut, — they seldom come 
From lower down buds, — ^though there are some 
For growth is always at the top. 

And even pruning can’t make it stop ! 


109 



THE ROYSTERING BUCCANEERS 

I T got quite dark in this deep little cave of theirs, 
while it was storming; but they did not mind any of 
it as much as Betty had been afraid they were going to. 
Of course they could hear the thunder, and see the light- 
ning flashes; but somehow they felt pretty snug and 
happy, tucked away as they were. And then Mr. Gryl- 
lus hailed the queerest creature imaginable, and induced 
it to come in ; and this was a diversion. 

They noticed her when she was quite a distance away 
— a shapeless sort of figure that seemed to be carrying a 
lantern, and hurrying along as if she wanted to get home 


no 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

before the storm broke. Mr. Gryllus hopped around 
and whirled about at sight of her and said ‘'Good ! The 
very person!” Then he called out, at the same time 
waving his right horn invitingly, “Come on in. Miss 
Photuris. Here’s a nice dry shelter for you — and you’ll 
be very welcome.” 

Uncertainly, she advanced, shuffling along — a very 
diffident acting individual. And she did come in, though 
she said nothing either to Mr. Gryllus or to them. 
When she got inside they saw that it was not light from 
a lantern that shone around her, but light that actually 
came from her own body. It made the little cavern 
quite nicely light all over it, though of course its high 
and vaulted roof still held mysterious shadows. 

He presented her; and the children and ’Patkin 
greeted her duly, and did everything that hospitality de- 
mands hosts shall do when they have visitors. But not 
a word could they get out of her. She was as dumb as 
an oyster. 

“You’ve seen her before, lots of times,” said Mr. Gryl- 
lus, “but it’s hardly to be expected that you’d recognize 
her now. Don’t you remember the glow-worms that 
you’ve found shining in the grass? Well, she’s one of 
em. 

“Oh, goody,” cried Billy, eagerly, “then I can ask her 
what makes her shine, can’t I ?” 


Ill 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

Mr. Gryllus snickered. ''You can ask her anything 
you want to,” answered he, "but she won’t answer. 
She doesn’t shine as a talker, whatever she may do as 
an illumination.” 

"Dear me,” interposed ’Patkin, "they do use some big 
words here, don’t they?” 

Mr. Gryllus whirled about and looked at him. "Why 
shouldn’t we?” said he in his sprightly way, "haven’t 
any dictionaries to bother us. Can use ’em as big as we 
choose.” Which did not seem a very sensible remark to 
Betty as she thought it over — ^but she reflected that it 
was perhaps a good deal to expect sense all of the time. 

They gave up trying to talk to Miss Photuris after a 
time, and devoted themselves altogether to cracking 
their nuts and eating them; and at last the storm was 
over, and she stole away unknown to them — for as soon 
as the light returned from out of doors, her own was 
so much dimmed that they did not realize it. 

And then along came Libellula again, to take them 
once more for a flight wherever they would go. "I’d 
like to show you my kinsfolk, though,” said he as they 
were getting themselves settled between his wings, "un- 
less there’s some special place where you want to spend 
the afternoon.” 

There were of course a great many places that they 
wanted to go ; but none of them promised better than this 


112 



Into the air he soared and away over meadows and roads and 
woods. . . . And then they came on such a funny pair! 


-/ 1 



V ^’V • ■* 


, I • 



I 

/ s 

, 9 

\\ \ - 








*. < ' 


' ■ • ’ ' • * '^tT •'*•..* *4 •, \ , ** k § ■ 

. • - ' * ' :- i , > 1 ’ ^ ' '•• • ■■ ■ ■■ ■ •’ -i- ' ' ' V'y'' • 

* ' s' '. : ‘ ■ - ■*•.*■■•. V. •■’^V 

^ ' ' ,.N : ’ . 

‘ *:■ •■ ». '•'* . ? ' y,^^'i '■ • , 

ll^ikAk ^ *^r •' ^ A : . *, »-_* ^‘ 






* . * , 

* A ‘ 


I 


\ •' f 
' ' 1 


» '* • 


A *♦ ' V 


' • ' ■ ,• ■» ■ ■ V ' * k J 

• . , - v 


■ >" 


k 

\ 




y • • , / ‘ *■ 


. ». 


. J 

/ . • f * • 

i V • » 




i Ft 

\ ^ ♦ .XL, 

Ti V 


-'*'• h '. 

•f 




r 

V.*' '/■ 

. ^ 1 

1 «. 

» * i • ^ 

.•‘v^ • 1 

l *JU 

K 


.. 

i ■ ♦ 




9 

■ ' 

a » ^ 


a ». » ^‘ 

' ' 'V 


. >■ . 


: %’ 


1 I 



) 





/ 

>; 


\ _ 

. 

' ‘ > 


1 • 

■ .•..:v- f*' 


• t 


• • 


.-V 


• I • • » « • 


4 U 

. « « <> • 

• a ? 



#« 


XL £ <t 


ft — . * 




A* 


' ‘ 'K 


'4 V 


I 



«» 

a. 


>« 








\ 




^r,. 

fill' ' "■ 


!' ■’ .A 


N ' 



5 


OT' - " ^ '*• 



I .% ■ 




» 


• % 


i ^ 


.. V 


/ 


• • 

\ • 

p 


4' 


; 


* 


A. »■ 


.V 


r> ;^v'' 

V- 


■ - VcA!^' •; >; 


iJm 


» ' 


r ' > 




4 ,*. 


'V 

J . 


( 

44 ‘ ' . ’ 


A# . 


. ^ 


A---. ■■ •■ ; 

-A..: . ■ .^.;y , ' .. . ■ , 


M 


Va^'- / ^ V •■ vV'*^ • ,,:% .r: 

L. . . • . . 1 . ' . \ . • • : 


\ 0 





Mr * • * > 

. >■» x « • » 

^ • J- ' VAA . 



' V 4 

^ .« ■ ' ■ ■ .4 

■ 


■;. *'■’ 4*^'' ■ V ■ " •s^ .' j i? - .*• f L * • ' T.aewi ‘ '• 

“VT^y?j*7;4-v’,A j. .* - » • •, g^, ' ^ . ^ . .-■» ;, * ' ■ • 

* ' * ' ’ **' '“■ K ' ^ '4 '"’*** * t* ' ^ 

‘ ' i- ■- ' ■hSmwHb 


N. • 


♦ 


e :s*'; • 

-4^ ^ 

L *V^ ' 

'* . >4 ' 



S?W 

'u/ 

*^'jA 

.'A -• '■* •’ 






t ■ ’*'^L * 








V 


':4V* ‘ ' ' 

.' * • . «* ■ 4 ^ • 


-.ti^ ■■ ‘ 

.' ’>*‘ >L •* 


A <;■ ^ * 

KtuA 


.*• .• 




; :* /•/ 


, 4 , * 

'• > -V- X ■ 

•4 4 

v^‘. * '4 

» • » I , 


a / 


. /a 


* , 


At 


\ . * : ' • • ' 1 * , • 

i |4 *, •' •'* ..»'''l* 

. . . * '■:' ini.'-; >w : <.-v,-- a 


»•' ■a . . • ^ 1^ 
^ •> 1 




« • • 


u •, 


a 

»’• * 


• LI 


• ■ • t;»l* . ' i ,: 

«• ■ ?'•. f >:/ ■ 

^ a 4 . ^ ■ a; . ■ / • •*• V r fc*-r . V 

. ^ V ■■■ ^ 

. \ • A - 1% O 

a. > - y • ■ 



9 < - 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

which he suggested, so they voted for it at once. And 
into the air he soared, and swept away over the meadows 
and woods and roads, at such a rate of speed as they had 
never dreamed of — so that the meadows and woods and 
roads just flew past them underneath ! My, what a ride 
that was ! And after the storm how clear and delicious 
the air was, with the sky bluer than they had ever seen 
it, and the earth greener. They were a very happy 
trio, notwithstanding the fact that they were in a very 
strange predicament — and had no idea bow they were 
to get out of it. Once in awhile that thought came over 
Betty and made her heart sink a little; but there were so 
many things to see and enjoy that such heart-sinking 
did not last long. And then they came on such a funny 
pair! 

They were riding on a southwest wind, these two; 
and as they came up to them, each was waving at the 
other one of the two long feathers that he wore in his 
skull-cap — or were they horns, like Mr. Gryllus’ ? And 
each was bowing ceremoniously to the other; but each 
wore an evil little grin just the same, Betty noted. Li- 
bellula kept right alongside of them so that she had a 
fine chance to see them, and to hear what they were 
saying, too. And as they were very intent upon each 
other and their own affairs, they never noticed Libellula 
nor the children nor knew that they were observed. So 

113 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

they talked quite freely — something their class does not 
generally do. 

''You are of the Greenjackets, I perceive/’ piped the 
plump one, puffing a little from his efforts to hang on to 
his precarious footing, and rolling his eyes amazingly. 

"None other/’ answered his funny acquaintance with 
a stiff little bow, and an unpleasant little smirk, "while 
you, sir, it is plain, are a Rosycoat.” 

"Quite right, quite right,” said the first, "that I am.” 

Then silence fell, and they whirled along — pleasantly 
enough and uneventfully, for a time. Green jacket be- 
gan humming a little refrain, in which Rosycoat joined, 
after a bit; and presently they broke into a song with 
which both were familiar, it seemed, even though they 
were strangers to each other until a moment before. 

SONG OF THE BRIGANDS 
'Riding on a summer breeze, 

All day I travel at my ease 

! — On a breeze, as I please, at my ease I—; 

An Aphid bold am I, 

I roam abroad on high. 

In search of such adventure 
As some probably would censure 
With a shocked and pained 'oh, my !' 

Each has six billion brothers. 

Sisters, cousins, aunts, grandmothers, 

— Billion brothers, grandmothers and others ! — 

For Aphids bold are we, 

1 14 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

Who sail the airy sea — 

In wickedness we revel, 

We’d hate being on the level! 

We’re a bad lot, you’ll agree. 

Terror to all hearts I strike I 

And that’s the sort of thing I like ; 

— On a hike so to strike do I like — 

An Aphid bold am I, 

Which is, I presume, why 
I search for tender verdure — • 

It’s the only thing will nurture, 

A rascal that’s so sly ! 

But one thing we can’t defy ; — 

Of soap-suds we are mighty shy ! 

— Never try to defy if you’re shy! — 

Though a wicked crew we are. 

And dreaded near and far; — 

For to all it is apparent 
Our badness is inherent: 

In crime each is a star!” 

In the middle of the second line of the last chorus, 
though, they heard the stout one begin to sniff and sniff. 
Then he smacked his lips. Then he licked his chops. 
And then they saw that he was peering this way and 
that below, balancing himself with one wing out- 
stretched. 

— ha,’’ he gurgled, ^'ah — ha — ha! Spice in my 
nostrils, and honey on my tongue ! But I certainly am 
glad to see thatT 

IIS 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

The other one — the Greenjacket — looked at once in 
the direction of his gaze. ''My great-great-grand- 
mother!’’ ejaculated he, "a garden, as I’m alive and 
starving! A real garden!” 

The Rosycoat blinked and blinked, shutting his pop- 
eyes and opening them again slowly; then he sneezed 
with a good deal of fuss, Betty thought, looking most 
unconcerned. Then he edged over sidewise, away from 
his neighbor. "Really,” said he, "really, this air is a 
trifle — er, brisk — for me, at any rate. I think I must 
bid you good afternoon, Mr. Greenjacket, and descend.” 
And with that he slid off quickly and dropped rapidly 
down; but the Greenjacket, being slim and nimble, was 
quite as quick. 

"You old pop-eyed, google-eyed, double-dyed robber,” 
he called out as he raced madly after him, "so you think 
you can beat me to it, do you? Well, I’ll show you.” 

They were of course out of sight almost at once; and 
Betty and Billy and ’Patkin too, began to ask questions 
about them. "Why were they in such a hurry?” 
"Who were they?” "Where were they going?” 
"Why did they try to get away from each other ?” And 
finally, "weren’t they horrid?” 

Libellula could not tell them anything very definite. 
He often passed them in midair like this, he said; but 
they were a worthless crew to him, in spite of their 

ii6 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

rotund and well fed appearance. ‘1 have an idea that 
some of the little garden folks could tell you about them, 
though,’’ said he, ‘'for whenever I see them riding on 
the winds they’re heading for a garden. And from the 
cut of their jib, I don’t imagine they are up to anything 
but mischief. They’re an evil looking set of little vil- 
lains — that’s my opinion.” 

“Mine, too,” said ’Patkin with much warmth, “and 
that is a subject I am not usually deceived about. If 
ever I saw any creatures just fit for the hangman, it’s 
this same Mr. Greenjacket and Mr. Rosycoat!” 

Arriving, however, almost at once in the top of a pear- 
tree they found so much going on there that these two 
were forgotten, for the time being anyway. “Here are 
young kinsmen of the Buzfuz,” said Libellula, “as well 
as distant kinsmen of mine — the Lacewings — ^working; 
— ^kinsmen in the sense that we belong to the same Order, 
anyway.” 

“Order of Odd Fellows?” asked ’Patkin seriously — 
whereupon Betty gave him a warning frown and a poke. 
But Libellula took no exception to the remark. 

“Possibly,” said he, “or something like it.” 

He settled on to a branch of the tree. And at once 
they saw one of the strangest sights that they will ever 
see in all their lives — nothing else than the young half- 
grown Lacewing flies engaged in routing a countless 
117 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

army of thieves that had taken possession of the tree, and 
were robbing it of its life blood. It was a wild scene, 
though they were only youngsters — and like most of 
the youngsters in this queer part of the world, so differ- 
ent from their parents that none would ever recognize 
them unless they had been told who they were. They 
did fearful execution, just the same. 

The clan of the thieves was named Psylla — one of the 
worst set of wretches in the world — but they did not 
stand a show against the young Lacewings. One of the 
latter would advance toward the particular brigand 
which he had picked out to slaughter, and maneuver for 
a moment, just as the boys at the Orphanage did, when 
they were going to wrestle for fun — or to fight, as they 
did pretty often. Then with a sudden terrific rush he 
would seize him, and lift him high, so that he was pow- 
erless to help himself ; and holding him there, he would 
draw out of his body the life fluids, casting him down an 
empty, shrivelled shell! 

Of course it was a dreadful thing to watch; and of 
course Betty was quite disgusted at the young monsters 
who could be so savage and merciless. But when she 
looked around and saw what the brigands themselves 
were doing, and heard the poor Tree make moan her 
heart hardened against them. 

‘"Oh,” gasped the Tree, ‘‘oh, how long must I endure 

ii8 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

it? They are taking my life, my very life! Oh, chil- 
dren ! — oh, doggie ! — suppose a thousand million mosqui- 
tos were biting you at once and you had no hands to 
brush them off — or to scratch the bites with ! Can you 
imagine how you would suffer? Can you imagine the 
torments? And how sick it would make you! Oh — h, 
dearr 

They all felt the bites, in imagination, right away; 
and then they felt how dreadful it would be to have no 
hands, as the Tree had said, to fight one's own battles 
with — even though they were nothing worse than insect 
battles. So as they went clambering over the branches 
on a tour of investigation, to see all that was happening, 
— and saw it! — Betty got over even shivering. For 
every wicked brigand Psylla pushed its long trunk down 
to the sweet sap under the bark of the tree, and sat there 
and pumped and pumped for dear life, gorging itself. 
And all the time the poor tree pleaded with them not to ! 

‘T do declare," said she at last, growing most indig- 
nant at the boldness of the creatures, and their insolence 
when she remonstrated with them, ‘T do declare I could 
fight them myself ! They ought to be eaten up, if the 
Lacewings want to !" 

''Course they ought to," agreed Billy, "nothing's 
too bad for 'em." 

"Right !" said 'Patkin, his hair standing up all along 
1 19 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

the back of his neck the way it always did when he was 
angry, ‘^there isn’t anything as bad as something that 
hurts something else that’s harmless, when that some- 
thing else can’t help itself — is there?” 

This was a little hard to follow, perhaps, but they 
knew just what he meant. ‘^No !” both of them cried — 
and the Tree, and King Libellula, from where he sat in 
the sun, ‘"there is notT 

And so they began to wish that there were a great 
many more of the Lacewings, to hurry the work of 
rescue. For there were such great numbers of the 
abominable Psylla! ’Patkin shook the life out of one 
or two, as he might have shaken it out of a big rat, on 
the way back to Libellula. But it was useless to try and 
be of any real help, in the face of such overwhelming 
hordes. 

As they walked they noticed quite a good many shells 
lying all about — something like the shells of oysters, 
and some as large as a plate while others were smaller — 
and Billy tried to pick one up. But to his surprise, and 
Betty’s, it was stuck fast to the tree ; and when ’Patkin 
sniffed of it to see why, if he could, he raised his head 
with a sharp exclamation. “There’s something under 
it !” said he, “something alive.” 

“You’re right there is,” answered a little fat voice 
from behind them ; and turning around they saw a funny 
120 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

little red figure hurrying along — a figure that looked 
about as much like a lively balloon gliding toward them 
as anything they could think of. ‘‘And if you’re fond 
of fresh scale meat, I can recommend these as being 
tender and juicy. My one trouble about them is that I 
cannot eat half enough!” 

In spite of the clumsiness of her form, she ran along 
at a sharp clip, her little black feet twinkling as she went 
past them ; and notwithstanding this clumsiness she was 
rather a pleasant little personage, in some way. ’Patkin 
began to wag his tail at once, and smile at her. “Help 
yourself, sir,” she continued, and pointed towards a 
shell in front of him, “just claw it loose, and try it. 
You must be hungry.” 

Of course he was hungry; for, though he had enjoyed 
the nuts for luncheon as he always enjoyed sharing the 
food of his friends, they were not exactly filling to his 
stomach. So after a glance at Billy and Betty, which 
they answered with a nod, he did as she told him — that 
is, he clawed at the shell until it was loosened and 
flopped over. And then he promptly ate up the plump 
shell animal that was revealed — a thing about as much 
like an oyster as its shell was like an oyster’s shell. 

“Like it?” said the little red creature. 

“M — mm, — fairly well,” answered ’Patkin, “yes, in- 
deed. ril try another, if you don’t mind.” 

I2I 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

‘'Oh, by all means. Try all you want. They’re not 
mine, you know,” was the brisk answer, “they’re every- 
body’s that likes ’em.” 

They watched her — at least the children watched her ; 
’Patkin was busily following her advice — and noted 
that she had great, clear, black spots on her shining red 
body. But suddenly she seemed to open in two sections 
lengthwise and they thought something awful had hap- 
pened to her! — until they saw that what they had sup- 
posed was her body was in reality wing cases — and with 
the most wonderfully folded up pair of wings inside of 
them, too, that ever could be imagined. 

“Oh,” cried Betty, “you can fly, too, can’t you?” 

“Why, of course I can fly,” she looked up at her curi- 
ously, twisting her head something like a turtle, “can’t 
you? You know they’ve always sung that foolish old 
song to me — ‘Lady-bug, lady-bug, fly away home, your 
house is on fire, your children at home I’ — as if there were 
a word of truth in any part of it. I don’t live in a house, 
and my children are never at home !” 

“Then you’re a lady-bug?” cried Billy, “a really truly 
lady-bug?” 

“Why, certainly I am. What’s so remarkable about 
that?” 

“He never saw one before, your lady-bugship — please 
excuse him,” said Betty hurriedly. 

122 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

"'Why, yes, I have seen lots of 'em, Betty,” said Billy. 
‘What do you say that for ?” 

“I mean you've — you’ve never seen one since we've 
been here’' explained Betty, “of course you've seen a 
great many at home.” 

“Well, I've no house to get on fire and my children 
are in no danger,” this old couplet evidently was a seri- 
ous annoyance to her, “so please don't sing that silly song 
to me or to any of my clan any more.” 

“Yes, your lady-bugship,” said both of them; then 
Betty asked about her children. Betty was always in- 
terested in the children. 

“Well,” said Mrs. Lady-bug, “as a matter of fact, 
my children are not a bit of trouble, as so many people's 
children are. So I don't have to worry about them the 
least bit in the world. I tuck 'em away, all snug in their 
eggs, here and there — ^under these little loose ends of 
bark for instance, as I've been doing this afternoon — 
and there I leave 'em to wake up and break their way out 
of their egg-shells, and run about all by themselves. 
You see I could hardly look after so large a family as I 
have, if they couldn’t help themselves,” she added with a 
sigh. 

“You have a good many children, then?” asked 'Pat- 
kin. 

“Oh, yes — several hundred.” 

123 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

‘‘My stars! I should think you would be glad they 
aren’t helpless,” gasped Betty, “that is an awful fam- 
ily!” 

“Well, of course I see to it that they are where nice 
fresh meat is handy — for they love this more than Tat- 
kin does, even. Really, they’d die if they couldn’t have 
it.” 

“My stars!” said Betty again, utterly at a loss for 
other words. The line which she had learned in the 
Countess Spencer’s song came to her mind — “How 
strangely things differ in appetite!” Babies! — eating 
fresh meat! — But after all, little chicks didn’t live on 
milk; and perhaps Mrs. Lady-bug’s children were like 
old Cackle’s — at least they hatched out of an egg, it 
seemed, just the same. Perhaps that accounted for the 
difference in tastes. 

“I’d like to know what kind of shell-fish — I mean 
shell-animals — these things are,” said ’Patkin, swallow- 
ing another with a good deal of gusto, “they’re quite 
tender and good.” 

“They’re another thing that torments me,'' came the 
voice of the Tree suddenly, while a sigh shook all its 
leaves and branches, “oh, it is a hard life I’d have, I tell 
you, between the pirate Psyllas, and these sneaking, 
skulking shell creatures, if it weren’t for my good little 
friends you’ve met here.” 


124 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

‘'You poor thing/^ cried Betty, “doesn’t anybody take 
care of you?” 

The Tree shook itself and lifted its head a bit. “Oh, 
I don’t need to be taken care of,” it answered, “I’m all 
right. But of course I’m pretty glad of these good 
friends. Nobody likes to be friendless.” 

“No, indeed,” answered the three heartily, “we should 
say not.” 

“Once,” the Tree went on reflectively, “some of the 
Overlords did try to doctor me up — when nothing on 
earth ailed me, you understand, except that I was being 
tormented beyond all tree endurance by these Terrapin 
Scales and the Psylla — and they sprinkled me over with 
some terrible stuff that killed all these, my little friends, 
without killing all of the brigands. And then maybe I 
wasn’t in misery for a while ! Never try to do anything 
like that unless you know all about it ; let that experience 
of mine teach you that. I give you my word, I nearly 
died!” 

“Alec is always very careful,” said Billy, “when he 
sprinkles the trees and things — for he says just that 
that you said — ‘A man never ought to do this ’nless he 
knows what’s what!* So I guess it wasn’t Alec that 
did that.” 

“No, it wasn’t,” answered the Tree, “that wasn’t his 
name — but I don’t believe I remember what it was. 

I2S 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

However, that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that 
you take the advice I’ve given you and Alec has given 
you — and don’t do what that other fellow did.” 

‘^But it does seem as if we might do something to help 
get rid of these things,” said Betty, ‘'something to help 
Mrs. Lady-bug, who says she can’t begin to eat ’em all 
up. Don’t you suppose we could? It’s just awful to 
leave ’em all here, biting you and biting you.” 

Sighing, the Tree swayed and shivered. “Yes, of 
course it is,” said he, “but the one thing that can be done, 
can’t be done when I’m awake. Only when I am sleep- 
ing in the winter, could you be of any help. And even 
then you’d have to be careful not to hurt all my little 
friendly soldiers — that’s what I call Lady-bug and her 
relatives and clan — for they tuck themselves in around 
my feet when it comes winter, and go to sleep too, close 
against me sometimes. So you see what a difficult situa- 
tion I am in.” 

“Just the same, there must be some way,” insisted 
Betty, with great confidence in her tone, “and when we 
get home I’m going to find it out — and do it.” 

“Well, of course I wish you might. But I’m not so 
unhappy as I might be, all things considered. The 
Lady-bugs and the Lacewings — ^bless them! — are good 
and loyal friends. And as long as nothing happens to 
them. I’m pretty well off — though of course I could do 
126 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

a great deal better if I were free from the pests you see 
drinking my sap.’’ 

‘'Of course you could,” said she sympathetically, “I 
never had any idea there were such things going on.” 

"Well, there are,” answered the Tree ruefully, "every- 
where, all of the time.” 

They went back, very thoughtfully, to where they had 
left Libellula, basking in the sun; and got onto his back 
in silence and rode for quite a time without saying any- 
thing. Then Betty suddenly spoke. "Now I know,” 
said she, "what it is to have a Mission-in-Life. Mrs. 
Bell was talking to me about it the other day, and I didn’t 
understand, somehow. But I do now — for I’ve found 
one.” 

"What is it?” asked ’Patkin, looking a little anxious. 

"Why, it’s to rescue all the poor trees and things. 
And I wish I could go home right this minute and be- 
gin.” 

But being assured that Mission-in-Life did not mean 
anything that would take her away from them, ’Patkin 
said no more — and was soon absorbed in looking over 
at the earth as they sped along. And so he was the one 
to discover that something was wrong in the corner of 
the garden where some young Hollyhocks lived, as they 
came above this. 

"Listen,” he cried, and pointed to them with his nose, 
127 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

‘'listen! What was that that Sunbeam said? Some- 
body’s sick, I think.” 

They all listened, and Libellula slowed down. 

"Wake up 1” They could hear Sunbeam’s voice quite 
plainly, though it was not loud and he was speaking so 
far beneath them. "Wake up! Hold up your heads, 
my dears. Why it’s long past noon! What does this 
mean? And it isn’t time to droop them again. What 
ails you ? Hold up your head — and you, hold up yours/' 

"Oh, I can’t hold up my head,” cried one, "I am 
waked up, but I cannot hold up my head! Oh, please 
don’t!” 

"My head I can’t hold up either,” said the next to 
her. "And I didn’t sleep all night,” moaned another. 
"Oh, how sick I am!” "And I can’t hold up my head 
— oh, dear !” 

"Why can’t you hold up your heads, I should like to 
know? Why didn’t you sleep? How are you sick?” 
demanded Sunbeam. He was rather severe too, as be- 
came one always up and doing and right on time; and 
he searched each with the most penetrating glance you 
ever could imagine. No use trying to conceal anything 
from him, ever; Betty saw that. 

All his sharp questions brought just the same answer, 
though; and each Hollyhock spoke it so feelingly and 
with such evident sincerity that the sound of their an- 
128 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

swer was really quite emphatic, and made even the Sun- 
beam blink. *'1 don’t know,” said they, one and all, ''my 
head is heavy !” 

‘‘Well, well,” said he, ''this is evidently serious. For 
a minute I almost thought you — you were shamming. 
But that’s because I have so lately been on indoor duty 
and had a lot of lazy folks to tend. Of course I know 
you*d never do such a thing as that — when I stop to 
think. Well, well — ^you don’t know! And all your 
heads are heavy!” 

"Something happened this morning,” said one, 
weakly. 

"Yes,” said her sister, "when Rain was here.” 

"I think it’s measles,” shuddered another. 

"Or vaccination !” 

"Why, it couldn’t be that,” whispered Billy — for 
Libellula had descended so that they were very near the 
sick plants now. But Betty put a finger on her lips; 
and Sunbeam, glancing at them, nodded. "Of course,” 
he said, also in a whisper, "it couldn’t be that! But 
she’s too sick to know, if we told her different.” 

Aloud he said to the Hollyhocks, "When Rain was 
here, eh? While I was away this morning?” 

One or two were able to sigh a "yes” which was barely 
audible. He shook his head, and looked very serious — 
as serious as it is ever possible for a fine and able-bodied 
129 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

Sunbeam to look. ‘'Bad business/’ said he, in another 
aside to the children and Libellula, “very bad business. 
Too bad I had to leave, even for a little while.” 

“What ails them?” said Billy. 

“Is it catching?” asked Betty. 

“Oh, it’s one of the Torments,” said he, “tiny in- 
visible creatures that ride in the chariots of Rain — the 
rain-drops, you know — and so slide in when I am not 
on guard, and get under the skin of the flowers, and 
make them so sick — so very sick — ” here he glanced at 
the little Hollyhocks to see if they were listening, “that 
sometimes they die.” 

“Well, it’s something just all of the time!” exclaimed 
Betty in an indignant voice, “isn’t it ?” 

“Yes,” said the Sunbeam gravely, “that’s just what 
it is. And these invisible Torments are worse than the 
ones you can see ; for those, you at least can fight. But 
these you can never reach, once they are under the 
plant’s delicate skin — for that covers and protects 
them, you see. Oh, they are a wicked enemy, believe 
me!” 

“How is any one ever to overcome them?” asked 
’Patkin, to whom battles and fighting always made a very 
strong appeal, though he was a most peaceable and well- 
behaved dog. 

“Well,” said the Sunbeam, “there is a way — ^but 
130 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

there’s only one ! That’s never to give them a chance, 
really.” 

‘‘How do you go about it?” asked Betty. 

^'Well, you have to be pretty vrise — and patient — and 
always on guard. I’ve heard old Simon telling about it 
often, in days gone by.” 

‘Then you can tell us,” said Billy. 

‘T don’t know about that,” answered Sunbeam, “ex- 
actly. But I can try.” And with that he too sat down 
on Libellula’s back and began, by announcing in a loud 
voice the title of his recitation. “Spray, I pray!” he 
cried dramatically — and so suddenly indeed that they 
all jumped! 

SPRAY, I pray! 

*Two kinds of enemy in the garden. 

Engage the attention of its warden. 

Insects ! — and Blights — or Fungous Diseases ! 

Oh, wretched plant on which either seizes! 

Insects, however, can always be seen. 

But a Blight will elude the vision most keen. 

That’s how it is that their mischief is done. 

Without your suspecting it has begun. 

The maladies, too, that they occasion. 

Are of the incurable persuasion. 

It follows, therefore, that to prevention 
Instead of cure, you must give attention. 

13I 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

So everything must be fortified, 

By frequently spraying with fungicide. 

This promptly destroys all bad bacteria, 

The instant they touch a plant’s exterior ! 

A mixture called ‘Bordeaux,’ ready to use, 

Is the best fungicide that you can choose. 

Dilute it according to directions. 

And spray things often, in sickly sections. 

So much for the Blights : of course Bugs and Worms, 

Are not so elusive, nearly, as germs. 

But for these, as for those, it’s best to prepare, — 

Though you can’t spray Insects till they are there ! 

There’s a secret, though, about these creatures. 

That is one of spraying’s most vital features. 

And unless it is duly emphasized 
In dealing with them you will be surprised. 

For as often as not it may appear. 

They thrive on poisons — which surely is queer I 

The secret is this : — some have jaws and chew. 

And some only bills to draw liquid through. 

And plant juice drinkers can’t be affected 
By poison, for their food is protected. 

The only means for their execution 
Is soapsuds spray, or lime-salt solution. 

These shrivel them up as dry as a bone. 

If you shower them well, then leave them alone, 

132 


The Roystering Buccaneer^ 

Be sure, though, that not a one has eluded 
This wetting down, when it is concluded. 

For every insect the spray fails to touch. 

Lives on to pester and worry you much. 

Because where there’s one there soon is a score. 

And a score in no time grows to be more ! 

That’s all there is about insects that drink ; 

And now of the others a moment we’ll think. 

The insects with jaws, that eat, should be fed 
On the poison known as arsenate of lead. 

Always keep watch for their tell-tale tracks — 

The holes in leaves which reveal their attacks, — 

Then sprinkle this poison plentifully 

Over plants in whose leaves such holes you see. 

ik ♦ ^ jjc 5k 5k :k 5k 5k 

This, briefly, is what there is to spraying. 

And insects and fungous pests allaying.” 

^'Dear me, don’t I wish I had my copy book here, 
to write all that down in it,” sighed Betty, as he fin- 
ished. 

'T’ll remember it for you,” said Tatkin, "'don’t worry. 
It comes natural for me to do so, you know.” 

"Does it?” Billy looked at him wonderingly, "why, 
do you suppose?” 

"Why?” said ’Patkin, "why — because I’m a dog, I 
suppose.” 


133 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

‘‘But I don’t see how that’s any reason,” said Billy, 
rather dissatisfied. 

^‘Neither do I,” said ’Patkin, '"but it’s the only thing 
I could think of.” 

They had started on, and were quite near home when 
Betty suddenly screamed, ‘‘Oh! There’s that green 
monster we saw first of all, when we got here ! Oh, he’s 
glaring at us now, savage as anything! Oh, please, dear 
King Libellula, don’t let us get anywhere near to him, 
will you? I know he’ll chew us all right up, if he gets 
the chance.” 

“Where is he?” asked Libellula, shortly. 

“Right there, on the leaf of that great corn-stalk. 
Oh! — isn’t he terrible?” 

“0-ho,” laughed Libellula, **that fellow? Never you 
mind him. He never hurt anything in the world ex- 
cept the farmer’s crops — and things like that. He’s a 
vegetarian.” 

“A veg-e — ^veg-e — what?” said Billy. 

“A veg-e-tar-i-an. He only eats vegetables; and he 
wouldn’t eat you if you tried to get him to — for he 
couldn’t. At least I don’t believe he could. But he 
gets away with enough of the green things of this world, 
make no mistake about that/* 

“Who is he?” asked ’Patkin, glaring back at him as 
hard as he could. 


134 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

‘‘Melanoplus, of the clan of leapers — leapers in the 
grass they are, you know. Why, they can travel — ’’ 

''Gr3,ss-hoppersr cried Betty, interrupting as it sud- 
denly came to her, ‘‘oh, please forgive me for being so 
rude, Libellula, sir — ^but I just thought of it. Grass- 
hoppers 

“Surely,” said he agreeably, “grass-hoppers if you 
prefer calling them that. It means the same thing, I 
guess.” 

“Why, of course that’s what he is; and I won’t be 
afraid of him ever again; I don’t care how big he is,” 
said ’Patkin, “he’d never do us any harm.” 

“But he eats up all the farmers’ oats and grains some- 
times, and does a lot of harm that way,” said Billy. 

“That’s the reason he looked so angry when we said 
‘oat-meal,’ I’ll bet anything,” Betty nodded her head 
as she spoke, and it did seem reasonable, “he thought 
we ate what he wanted.” 

“Well, I expect you do,” said Libellula, “and of course 
he’s no friend of yours — never think of him as that, for 
an instant. But he can’t do you children any harm, di- 
rectly — or he’s not likely to try to. For he doesn’t know 
how to bite anything really but grasses and green 
things.” 

“Just the same, he’s got awful jaws — and teeth,” said 
Billy, remembering how he had chanked at them. 

135 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

^‘And an awfully mean disposition/’ added Betty, as 
she glanced again in the direction of this particular 
Melanoplus. He still sat just as she had first seen him 
— and was still staring at them with that bland expres- 
sion that made her dislike him so very much. And there 
he sat and stared until they were out of sight ! 

It was too late for any more visits that day; so Libel- 
lula brought them at last to their cavern door, and they 
dismounted and said good night. And away he sailed, 
swifter than he had yet flown during all of the day, as 
they watched him. ‘1 should think he’d be tired,” said 
Betty, '^carrying us all day — ^but he doesn’t act so.” 

They stood on the great rock in front of their cave 
for a long time, watching the sun drop lower and lower 
and listening to the voices of different things — and Betty 
began to feel very sad and homesick, wondering, oh, 
ever so hard! — ^how they were going to get back; and 
how long before they could go. Deep in her heart 
there was an awful feeling that maybe they could never 
find the way— maybe they would always have to stay 
here, and be little creeping things down close to the 
earth, like the little bugs and beetles and tiny flies; al- 
ways meeting some strange new monsters of this strange 
world, and always having to go everywhere with some 
one to guard them from the countless dangers that 
waited for them on every side. 

'136 


The Roystering Buccaneers 

Tatkin saw that something was the matter, and came 
close to her and laid his chin up against her breast so 
that his eyes could look straight up into her face; and 
there he stood for a long time. And at last she looked 
down at him, and then put her arms around him and 
around Billy too ; and hugged them very tight and very 
close, for a long, long hug. Then she felt better, for 
some reason. And they ran inside to see what the wind 
might have brought them for supper. 


137 


o 


O 



A DIM KNIGHT OF DARKNESS AND THE 
SILVER TONGUES OF DAY 

T hey found a blackberry which some bird had 
probably dropped as he was flying over, and this 
was a very welcome addition to the maple nuts — which 
they were beginning to grow almost as tired of as they 
were of nectar. The only way they could eat this great 
luscious blackberry though, was to stand up and bury 
their faces in its juicy sides. And you can imagine how 
they looked, after this ! 

They laughed merrily at each other, and then scoured 
off the stains in a puddle that the shower had left, close 
by — not a puddle to them, to be sure, but a lovely little 
lake; and then they clambered up into their high, snug 
chariot of a bed. 

But just as they were about to curl down to ride away 
on the road of dreams, away off somewhere they heard 
music — singing that was very clear and sweet. ^^Oh, 

138 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 

it’s a wood-thrush/’ cried Betty, who had learned a 
good many birds’ names, '1 do believe !” 

hear a starling,” said Billy, after a moment. 

‘'And there are robins, too,” said Tatkin, “and they 
are all singing words. Listen !” 

Sure enough they were! 

'^Good even, good even ! Good night, good night ! 

Sun is setting. Sir Buf o ; all is well ; 

All’s right ! 

Good night, good knight.” 

“Did you ever?” whispered Betty, “I never thought 
of such a thing ! Who do you s’pose they’re talking to ?” 

As if it were to answer her, a different voice alto- 
gether came right up out of the ground before their 
cavern, it seemed — a deep, rich voice. “The evening is 
ever good indeed, oh friendly Silver Tongues, and the 
night it is good likewise,” it said. 

“Who can it be?” they wondered, and peered over 
into the shadows eagerly, this way and that. But, 
though they could see the light which shone in at 
the entrance of their cave, it had grown too dark for 
them to see anything out-doors, beyond it. “This is 
surely some big and great person, though,” said ’Patkin, 
sniffing with his slender nose in the air, “with a voice 
like that. It’s familiar, somehow — ^vaguely, very 
vaguely.” 


139 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

The voice went on; — ''You to your airy rest, I to my 
watchful quest; yours the blue ways of the heavens, in 
the glow of glad sunlight and singing, mine the brown 
ways of the earth and of her waters in due season — the 
quiet of shadows and soft rains and pools. So I wend 
me, still and soft like the night that moves with me — 
listening, listening! — my trusty lance at rest, yet ready 
for an instant blow, when comes an alarum.^' 

"I do declare to goodness,” cried Betty, her eyes like 
the stars in the darkness, "I believe it’s a really-truly 
knight errant, Billy! Oh — don’t I wish we could see 
him! Maybe he’s buckling on shining armor this very 
minute, and taking up his shield! Oh, how I wish it 
were light !” 

There was something very mysterious and delightful 
in his voice as well as in his words, and they were all 
in a state of eager excitement over him. But though 
they listened and watched for the longest time, they 
did not catch another sound outside. Not even did they 
see a shadow move. So at last they had to give it up, 
for they grew so sleepy they could not keep awake an- 
other minute. But of course they all three dreamed of 
knights and tournaments and joustings — and fair maid- 
ens in distress and wonderful deeds of valor in their 
rescue; and when morning came and the voices of the 
tribe of Silver Tongues fell on their ears once more, they 
140 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 

could hardly wait to be out, and hunting for the strange 
singer of the night. 

It was still quite dark down in their little cavern 
though, when the Silver Tongues began to sing of the 
dawn — for of course from their high places they can see 
it sooner, down over the rim of the world, than anybody 
else. So Betty and Billy and ’Patkin lay still, listening 
to them, just as they had often lain when they could not 
understand what they were saying, at home — and wait- 
ing for it to grow lighter. And now they sang another 
song. 

‘‘Good morrow, good morrow ! Good day, good day ! 

Sun is risen. Sir Bufo; you’ll soon on 

Your way ; 

Good knight, good day !” 

Over and over they sang this — the robins and the 
thrushes and the starlings and the little song-sparrows 
and all the rest of the great tribe. And then suddenly 
there came the answering tones of the mysterious knight ! 

^The sun of the morrow is risen indeed, oh, friendly 
Silver Tongues — and I am on my way.’’ 

You may believe they were all three out of that bed 
in a twinkling and scampering to look out! And in 
just a moment they saw him, coming slowly through the 
forest of grasses and flowers — ^beyond Columbine — and 
soliloquizing, as becomes a true knight. So deep in 
thought was he that he took no notice of anything, either 
141 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

to his left or right; but what a weird, ungainly, ugly 
figure he was! ''Oh, dear!” gasped Betty, in spite of 
herself, "he isn't dressed in armor !” 

"Why, he can't be a knight,” exclaimed Billy, "he 
doesn’t ride a charger. And see his funny feet !” 

"S“sh,” said 'Patkin, "can't knights travel differently 
in different places? And dress differently, too. Thafs 
nothing. Besides, maybe he's disguised.” He did not 
of course pretend to know much about them; but he 
liked to find excuses when things seemed to be a dis- 
appointment. 

Betty shared this quality ; and so she nodded her head 
and gave him a grateful look. "Of course,” said she, 
"they can, I s'pose. And maybe he is.” 

"Well!” said 'Patkin, as if that settled it. 

The knight seemed to be troubled ; and they heard him 
sigh a great sigh as he drew nearer. "By my troth,” 
said he, "such words as those fair young plants have just 
uttered to me, fill my breast with longing to have merited 
them; whereas I have done nought that is brave nor 
great nor fine. What though I slay their mortal foes? 
I am but slaying my own prey. Truly it is my own 
appetite that I have esteemed above all else, oh Beau- 
tiful Ones and Useful Ones of the garden ; so why will 
ye confound me with praise and thanks ? Why make my 
heart so heavy within me? I am a rough, rude fellow 
142 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 

— that is all — whom creation has given tastes in food 
that make me useful to your fair selves.” He sighed 
again and again, deeply, and they saw that he was very 
much downcast. 

''Oh, but good Sir Bufo,” said Columbine, shaking 
her dainty head, "you are always our protector, espe- 
cially when we are young and tender, through all the 
dreaded hours of night. Without you, how many 
would be alive at dawn, to greet it? Is it any wonder 
we praise and thank you?” 

"But it is no merit,” he insisted, "I am but true to my 
own hungry self, and I but follow the urgings of my 
own need and nature.” 

"That’s what every one does,” spoke up Tatkin all 
at once, looking down from the great stone that pro- 
jected out from the floor of their cave, "that’s what I 
have heard my Lady say many and many a time. So 
thafs no reason they shouldn’t thank you.” 

The dim knight looked all around, but did not see him, 
because the stone was higher than his head. "Who are 
you that speaketh?” said he, "and your Lady — who is 
she?” 

"My dear Lady is she who rules here,” answered 
’Patkin in a very proud voice indeed, "and I am her 
loyal friend and servant, ’Patkin.” 

"’Patkin,” said the dim knight, "’Patkin? By all 

143 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

rights, you are one I should know full well — for with a 
certain great dog of that name do I share the affections 
of a lovely Lady/’ 

Tatkin pricked up his ears and looked down on him, 
and sniffed this way and that, trying to get just his ex- 
act scent. ‘Why, is it possible,” said he at last, “that 
you are that toad for whom my dear Lady made 
such handsome provision, when he was young and small, 
causing a stronghold to be hollowed out for him in the 
cool earth and a great stone laid over it ? All this have 
I heard her tell, explaining that she wished to beguile 
him into staying here, where he would devour the hordes 
who make war upon the flowers.” 

“How shall I answer that,” said Sir Bufo, “save by 
saying that here in this earthy hollow, which I found 
so conveniently roofed with a great stone, I have dwelt 
many a summer, since I was indeed a very small and very 
nervous youngster, freshly graduated from a tadpole. 
And sometimes there comes here a very fair Lady, whose 
voice is sweet as dew in June; and she speaks to me and 
praises me and tells me I am welcome, and bids me never 
leave her — which makes me very happy indeed.” 

“That’s she ! ” cried ’Patkin, wagging his tail very 
hard and frisking about so that it seemed as if he might 
be going to jump down off of the stone. 

“P-st! P-st!” came softly from somewhere, and Mr. 

144 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 

Gryllus edged out from under a horse-chestnut leaf 
which had been hiding him. ‘'Don’t be too familiar,” 
he cautioned in a low tone, “keep your distance — don’t 
get any closer. He’s a bit queer; and he might gobble 
you up. Mind, now — ” 

Betty had heard him, in spite of his speaking very 
low ; and she caught hold of ’Patkin’s collar. “Oh, Mr. 
Gryllus! Would he really?” she asked, great sorrow 
and disappointment in her tone. 

“He might not,” answered Mr. Gryllus briskly, “then 
again he might. For he’s liable to snap up anything on 
the move, you see — from force of habit. So just keep 
your distance, all of you; and no jumping around or 
frisking, remember. That’s very dangerous.” 

“Yes, yes,” said ’Patkin, impatiently it must be 
owned, for he wanted to go on talking to Sir Bufo about 
his Lady, yes. I’ll be very careful. I won’t jump 
nor frisk — ^honor bright 1” Then to Sir Bufo, who still 
sat below, once more lost in thought it seemed, he called 
out again, “That’s she. That is my dear Lady, indeed. 
And you can be no other than that same toad, whom I 
have often regarded from afar, warned by her not to 
approach nor to molest him. And I am no other than 
the great dog of whom you spoke — the same ’Patkin.” 

“Why, how can that be?” said Sir Bufo, “he is a mon- 
ster a thousand times greater than myself, whilst you 

145 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

are a hundred times smaller. You are indeed no bigger 
than the least of my prey — the underground dwellers 
who run so wildly; ants, I think some call them.” 

‘This isn't his usual size,” Betty began hurriedly, 
“nor it isn't our size either, if you please. Sir Bufo. 
We are a little boy and girl from the Orphanage, and 
'Patkin is surely a great dog when he is his own true 
bigness.” 

“How can that be?” exclaimed Sir Bufo, blinking 
harder than ever. “How can that be?” 

“We don't know,” said Billy, unwilling to leave all 
of the weight of it to his sister, “we don’t know, sir ; but 
it's the truth.” 

Sir Bufo grew great with the greatness of the breath 
he drew in and his sides heaved and heaved. “Well, 
well,” said he, “well, well ! 'Tis passing strange, indeed. 
For by the pearl in my brow, men and the children of 
men are greater than this great dog 'Patkin — so great 
that thousands of my clansmen are trodden under their 
feet every day; and thousands more brought to their 
death in wanton sport or folly. Yet here are you, such 
small creatures that I could transfix you with my good 
lance without an effort — and eat a hundred of you in 
ten minutes!” 

They drew back a little at this, very cautiously, even 
though he was below them; for when he opened his 
146 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 

mouth, it certainly did yawn before them like a fiery pit 
into which it seemed as if they could tumble without 
moving out of their tracks. And he was such a great 
huge thing, compared to themselves — as big as an ele- 
phant or as an elephant and a half, easily. He noticed 
the movement and understood the reason for it. 

‘‘You needn’t be alarmed though,” said he, “I shall 
not. For I am full, for one thing; and for another I 
like my meals to be livelier than either of you three seem ; 
and for another, you are strange to me. I have never 
eaten any of you yet ; and I don’t know how you taste, 
or whether you would agree with my digestion. So 
have no misgivings. I do not wish to eat you — and 
probably shall not.” 

Surely one of the queerest things about this queer 
part of the world in which they had so suddenly found 
themselves, thought Betty, was the very frank way in 
which its inhabitants talked to you about eating you! 
They did not seem to have the slightest feeling of deli- 
cacy about speaking of you as if you were a chop or a 
potato or a cabbage, right to your face. Really, it was 
very disconcerting. 

But not wishing to appear to mind it — as long as Sir 
Bufo did not — she tactfully asked a question that 
changed the subject. “If you please. Sir Bufo,” said 
she, “are you a knight errant? I never saw one — ^but 

147 


W onderdays and W onderways Through Flowerland 

IVe read about them. And when we heard you sing- 
ing last night, I thought you must be.’’ 

‘Well,” said Sir Bufo, blinking and somewhat at a 
loss — for it is doubtful if he knew just what a knight 
errant was, and besides that, he was really modest and 
did not believe in talking of his prowess and good deeds, 
‘‘it’s — hardly that, my dear — hardly that. I — I’m just 
a hunter — a sort of a rough fellow that prowls around.” 

“But you rescue the flowers, when they are attacked,” 
she insisted, “and that’s what knights errant do — rescue 
lovely ladies at least. Seems to me as if you prob’ly 
are.” 

“If you please, sir,” spoke up Billy, “won’t you tell 
us a story? I don’t care if you’re not a knight errant. 
I’d just as lief any kind of knight told me a story.” 

“Well, I can do that,” said Sir Bufo, “if you want a 
story of action. Now just last night, for instance — ” 

“Yes?” said Betty, encouragingly, as he paused. 

“Well now, just last night I got there not a moment 
too soon. For already a murderous wretch was 
throttling a young Cosmos and I caught him right in 
the very act — and soon made away with him, be very 
sure.” 

“Oh! — who was he?” 

“One of the wicked Agrotis, the wise call them. 
Others not so learned have dubbed this fellow and his 
148 







* . » 


iV 


^ 4h.* • l->^.*-r‘ ' ^ fjN. 




/r 


' VvVi*. 

i > V- -; . ”• 

> - , 


/ % 

. A 


f 

A 


,V ..’^ ♦• 






* , *. - Vvl ^ » ’ , * ' ^ . ' 

, < -ir'-'- ^ ' f ;■*. •’ ' L • 



^“:v' ^' 

•'.,' •■■ C ' r ,' • •:- SrffSviS -.® 

* . • S*^ •' . . * * I •“•’ if’ • * ; * . ' 1. . r< fc.v .. . 




-J ?* ^ *: 

■ •’ . .* '..■ -■ . v - 


i V*" ■'r^r ■^'' '' 

•.,-<.'ft)i/;;^Vi.’(ti\;r., • „ 


tr^ 




•■.'h*' ^T’'*, k>'' 

. .-A . , I.;, ^ • i ^ - ^- 

M •ri 


•;■ 1 . 



V- 




< . ♦ 


-<• ■ 





Xf‘rr- -tf: 


'• ^-rrvW-^ «-.*•- 

^ 'V. • •■■ 

VM; '^ '■ -’ ' -■-•>■: J' 


» '. */ 


- . _ 


• '1- •' ■•' 
jv . ; ,. ^ 

. V,_- . Y » ; • 


\y:i •' 


' ^^‘•- 


■ pi 


'S • ‘ 


.* • 


• ^ 




>, 


,* • 


.,_>>,, ‘--.T .y 


. >.^' St.;.. 

/Vs.. ' 






. { ,V • ■“’,* I ' S.S ~’ . w ■%? 

'*‘V •• t'i • - • ‘/to ’■ ‘^ 

' A' • ? J ./ 


, s ^ i? • . < '• 
k r.> , . 

• • - 'p-\ 


\ 

f . ' 


w 
•> 

^r-- r- 


4 ' / 

i * 




• 1 


f. 


< L -\ '' 

^ h\ . 


•r 

f ' 


. 4 ' . 




r :- 


. ' ' x\^ - •" . . . 

. - •• • ♦ >*•' I * ^ * 

i ■ ■‘•. o '. ■■< 

r iff' i.'*- v/ ^ ' ' 

**•»•» I - » V - » « ■ * , ^ X * 


. * »j t '- ■/.' , T . 


' -•• V . V . • » • ' 


4 ,• ♦? 4 . • ' • 


t ' - 
: ’. r '.-^ ■ 

I • 


/ . . 

'4^ 


V 

'l • \ 


■A. 


.■i • ' 

y 


I' » • ^ • » ,«, 





V ', . *' 4 . - -' »^/ 'r * '• 

' ■ . ■>: ■ W .’^i'-.^- .•r\'v' ,! 

r; -■ ' , ^i.. ;a' , ". 

• r ‘ * {• * -^7 ' ^ ^ 

^' ; ' • ‘. ' • *. ^ • ,■ - . •' . 

. A * I fl « A. * 





if '.'t ■ ;.r.4 
'> vy 


.:S... .V<<^ 

" ►; ■ ■•'•.*.< . ' •*' 


V >. 

» 


I V» 

.• M . ^^ 


■; •■*; ;r v- ... 

'■■p 


\ y. « . , . ' 

I 


■y -v '> 'iE A. 

fc *’ i “ .,-.» - *. 

».'• • 

• ^ v 




4 , 


l V 

‘ITA 

*■ < 


• * 

r . < 



- . ^ 

•■ •» t * . • • « k > 

.-..ir-v -V-' .vi;» 

^ 't-, t, •• " •/ 

^ ■ r. L ^ ■ vtoj 




> •**? *’ 


k 

• • 





• ^ 


r A 


^ to\ -y 


. U .i '•. )< 

•"r-V ■ . ’■ - t 

^ •*» . -> >4 ,.;, 

• V""- , 

> • ‘ J ** '-\ .* * ^ 

.■> " ' 


\ t 


■» ■ V f 

*■■ 


> 

• N 




7 ;.‘.V 


4^. 


r ^ • 

p 


*’ Jr 



^ ♦ 
' X* 


.V • 

* 


* * »- ^ I 


'*» . s 


. V ^» ■. . . ■ * - • . ' • , *■ , 

• J • I V‘ . ^. ♦ •* ■ . ‘ .' • > • • 


-N 

l" 


. A' 


V)aI ■ 


K t: ^ * 

Pj ^ r > _ 

• • . i '% ' 

•. ^ •- \;|r# •^• 


\- 



/‘V,. 




> •> 

■ A ^ f 


. “1 • 




• .•_■ ■>»* T_ • 1 » ; , J •>•*'• '•.' • •' -^V •*t/i 

A' ’n.^SfPWr ' 4 * *'»■ .»• r.^» » . -^ . • ' . , ' . m, / r ‘ 1 1 '. » •• , • *vi • • •jc'* 

..•■■'v^j ■ ■ 'f ‘;. ■'•At-' '\--- -iSi i *^'*-*y "I-. ■ 

^AA'-y '■ ■ . ■ ' ■ : 


.1 ✓ 








A Dim Knight of Darkness 

kind a cut-worm — ^because they cut the plants down like 
a scythe, killing a thousand for just a small portion of 
food. Oh, they’re a wicked lot !” 

^ Where did he come from?” asked Billy. 

‘‘Up out of the ground he came, as the night came 
down. He’d never be so bold as to venture out in day- 
light, be very sure — -but prowls around after it is dark, 
when there’s no one about; at least, no one but me, and 
the Chlaenius, perhaps.” 

“But how can a poor worm cut anything?” asked 
Betty. 

“A worm?” exclaimed Sir Bufo, “a worm? Beware 
of a worm! They are of all creatures the foulest and 
the wickedest — almost. Softly they creep, harmless 
they look ; but in their ugly snouts they carry shears and 
knives and what-not, to carve and cut and tear your 
friends the plants. Oh, beware of worms T 

“Oh, goodness!” cried Betty, “are they as bad as 
Aphids ?” 

“I don’t know them,” answered Sir Bufo, “but I should 
suppose they are much worse. For worms eat up; they 
leave nothing but the bones, picked clean, of the unhappy 
plant !” 

“How awful,” shivered Betty, remembering how Alec 
always scolded if he saw even the prettiest caterpillar 
hurrying across the ground, and caught him, in spite 
149 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

of her entreaties, — and scrunched him under a stone! 

‘^But I catch them,’’ went on Sir Bufo, steal up — 
stealthily; or I wait, still as the stone I sit beside, and 
watch and watch!” It made them all three shiver to 
hear him say this ; and when he leaped into the air with 
a little short leap to show how softly he stole up, they 
had all they could do to keep from running as far away 
as they could get. His great ungainly body was so soft 
that it made only a dull thud as it came back to the 
ground ; and oh, how huge he was when he lengthened 
out and his great jumping legs unfolded! 

^‘And then I strike, now here — now there! Never 
missing! Striking as fast as the miscreants appear. 
A-ha ! — and they are most excellent to eat.” He blinked 
very hard and very swiftly ever so many blinks, and 
opened his enormously wide mouth and flabbled his 
tongue in it, with the pleasure of the thought. ^Thus 
on I go through the garden, watching all the ways of 
it and all the plants, until the morning comes, bringing 
the heat. Then do I turn back here to my castle, to sit 
in silence and the dim coolness and ponder all I have 
done — and have eaten ! — until another night falls. And 
so even now, I will hence.” 

'‘And do you hunt all kinds of worms. Sir Bufo,” 
asked Betty, "or just the wicked A — A-gro-tis?” 

"By my jewelled head, I do indeed,” he answered 
ISO 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 

with spirit, '1 hunt any other buccaneering blatherskite 
that comes across my path — grasshoppers, crickets — ” 

‘‘Oh, surely not dear, good Mr. Gryllus!” cried she, 
shocked. 

“Crickets,’’ he repeated — and that was his only an- 
swer — ^then he went on unruffled, “and spiders, flies, 
beetles, snails, angleworms, sowbugs — anything indeed. 
Angleworms, by the way, never get over it.” 

“Never get over your hunting them? I don’t see how 
they could!” whispered Betty with a nervous little 
giggle. 

“No — ^not my hunting them! They never get over 
being worms.” 

“Dear me,” said ’Patkin, “that — ^that seems ex- 
traordinary.” 

“All others do, you know,” Sir Bufo explained, “all 
the other worms and caterpillars that you ever see any- 
where, except in the ground. And some of those, too. 
They graduate. But once an angleworm, always an 
angleworm.” 

This was more than they could hope to guess the 
riddle of. “If you please, sir,” said Billy after a mo- 
ment, “if you please, won’t you tell us what is a worm 
when it isn’t a worm ?” 

This sounded to Betty disrespectful, for some reason; 
and she was just opening her mouth to explain and ex- 

iSx 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

cuse it when, to her astonishment, Sir Bufo answered 
very seriously and without being in the least disturbed 
by such a strange question. 

‘Worms,’^ said he, ‘Vhen they are not worms are 
moths or butterflies or beetles or most anything.’’ And 
then he dove head first under the rocky pile, to his 
stronghold — leaving them to unravel his meaning the 
best way they could. 

It seemed as if they could not wait to ask some one 
about it; but there was no one around just then. Even 
Mr. Gryllus had disappeared while they talked. So they 
clambered down from their cave and went hand in hand 
along to hunt something for their own breakfast. And 
that came near to being the end of them ! 

They had gone but a little way when they came upon 
a crowd of Formicas quarreling over something, and 
pushing and jostling each other around at a great rate. 
And ’Patkin, nose in the air, said, ‘Tt’s egg.” 

‘‘Oh, I wish I could have some,” cried Billy; “wouldn’t 
they give it to us? Please, let me have some of your 
he called out, without waiting for Betty to answer 

him. 

They did not appear to hear him, but kept on running 
back and forth, some dragging it along and others 
breaking off pieces and running away with them. And 
so they passed, taking the chunk of egg along with 

152 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 

them; and the children got none of it. But they be- 
gan to hunt around everywhere, hoping they might find 
another piece — for Tatkin remembered all of a sudden 
that it was his Lady’s custom to eat her breakfast in 
the garden, on fine mornings. ‘'That’s where they got 
that piece,” said he, in disapproving tones ; “she scatters 
crumbs for the birds — and I’ve heard her say she wished 
they did not draw the ants, too.” 

At last they did find a very small piece; yet it was 
large enough for them each to have a good taste. So 
they sat down on the ground in the shade of an over- 
hanging leaf, to enjoy it. 

But in the midst of eating his chunk, ’Patkin sprang 
to his feet and barked, fiercely and loudly. He could not 
tell them what it was had made him do it though. 
“Something,” he said in reply to all of Betty’s questions, 
“there's somebody around here! Bow-wow! There’s 
somebody looking at us! Where are they? Who are 
they ? Bow-wow — w-w — wow !” 

“There isn’t a thing, ’Patkin,” said she, “don’t you 
see there isn’t? Come on and eat your breakfast, like 
a sensible doggie. Where could anything hide around 
here?” 

The leaf over their heads bobbed up and down at that ; 
and then over the edge of it slowly and cautiously there 
appeared the most awful Face! — And it looked right 
153 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

down at them as if its owner would answer her question 
with this look. 

^'Oh!'’ she gasped. And ^'Oh!” gasped Billy. ^^And 
oh-ho!’’ gasped and growled Tatkin, ruffling his neck 
as usual. But otherwise they never made a sign; for 
after the one movement which Betty made to catch the 
dog’s collar, and to clutch at Billy as he sat there, they 
were all three as if turned to ice by the sight of the thing. 
At least Billy and Betty were; and she held Tatkin so 
tightly that he did not move, though he wanted to. 

The Face waited a moment, looking at them wonder- 
ingly; and then it looked out over the landscape, and 
nosed along the leaf, surprised to find itself at the edge 
of something it seemed, instead of in the middle. Then 
it moved forward a little bit — and their horror grew! 
For they could see that there was no head or neck. It 
was set right on to a body — and that body was a great 
shapeless bag which had to be dragged along on the leaf 
by stumpy looking feet that had no legs above them! 
Really, it was the worst looking thing they had ever seen 
— worse looking than they had any idea anything ever 
could be. 

‘Ts it a dragon?” whispered Billy, watching it and 
trembling. 

‘"S-sh,” said Betty, ^^dragons eat children. Keep 
still!” 


154 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 

It moved so slowly and seemed so stupid that she was 
beginning to have a faint hope they might escape it, if 
they were very careful, and watched for a chance. So 
they sat very still, waiting. And this way and that it 
nosed its headless way; and then it slowly began to 
bite, bite, bite, into the leaf on which it stood! In al- 
most no time it had bitten a piece right out of it before 
their very eyes, and was chewing it up — while the Violet 
to whom the leaf belonged, complained and wept and 
begged for mercy. So they knew right away that it was 
the cruelest, as well as the ugliest thing, that there could 
be in the world ! 

After it had finished with this first piece, it began to 
bite in for another; and Betty moved very carefully. 
‘"Come,” she whispered, ‘^move as still as you can — 
just creep along! Oh, isn’t he dreadful? Poor Violet! 
Pm so sorry for you! Oh, if I were only bigger — ” 

They got no farther than just out from under the leaf 
when there was a sharp cry overhead. It was the lady 
Aea’s voice; and then they heard Her Serene Highness 
Dulcinea calling too — a wild call, which frightened them 
terribly and made them try to hurry faster. But of 
course Billy could not go very fast, being lame; and they 
were still close beside the Violet when there came the 
most terrible rushing sound, as if the greatest wind that 
ever was, were blowing. Then there was a whirl and 

155 


Wonder days and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

a swirl of something as black as night between them and 
the sun, as the sound increased — and both of them were 
flat on their faces suddenly, blown down by the blast! 
Tatkin too, was bowled over, to his great surprise and 
disgust. 

‘^Get up quickly, and run — run for your lives T cried 
the Princess, ‘'come ! We’ll help you,” she flew to them 
and tried to push and pull them to their feet, “Aea! 
Come and help me ! Oh, whatever are you doing here 
alone, anyway? Hurry, hurry!” 

They did not need to be urged, you may be sure ; but 
somehow it seemed as if they never could get up — and 
never could get into the deep shadow at the side of the 
path, toward which the Princess was trying to help 
them. 

At last however, they did reach the dimmer places 
underneath the flowers, along the border ; and then both 
Aea and Her Highness Dulcinea came to rest beside 
them, sighing and trembling. 

“Oh, what you escaped 1” cried the Princess, “I never 
want to be so frightened as that again as long as I live ! 
Why in the world did you go out alone? And why in 
the world can’t you learn to keep under the cover of the 
plants and grasses? Shall I never be able to make 
you remember these few simple rules and precau- 
tions?” 

156 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 

“Oh, Princess — if you please, we were under the 
cover,’’ said Billy, “but a terrible dragon came up on the 
top and looked over at us and frightened us so we ran 
away. That’s how we got out of the shadows, for we 
ran as hard as we could — but I can’t run very fast, you 
know, and they had to go slowly for me; and Betty and 
’Patkin aren’t to blame, for they didn’t forget. Only we 
were afraid of the dragon !” 

“Well, well!” said the Princess, looking at Aea. 

And Aea, looking back at the Princess, repeated it — 
“Well, well.” 

“Well, of course, child,” went on the Princess, “I can 
see how it would be. And I must not scold. Indeed, I 
did not mean to ; but it gave me such a turn when I saw 
it coming down toward you ! — OhT 

“Saw the dragon coming. Princess? But we could 
run faster than it,” said Betty reassuringly. 

The Princess shivered and began to tremble again. 
“Ah no, child,” said she mysteriously, “not the dragon. 
But it was on the dragon, thank fortune, that the shadow 
fell.” 

“What shadow?” asked Betty. 

“Didn’t you see a shadow?” asked the Princess. 

“No, Princess — I didn’t see anything; but the wind 
blew so hard that it blew me right down — so I wasn’t 
looking.” 


157 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

thought I caught sight of something/’ said Tatkin, 
^'but just then over I went, too.” 

'Well, there was the shadow,” said the Princess, '^and 
it came in the wind that blew you over. And I suppose 
I may as well tell you about it, though I was not going 
to because I thought there was no need of frightening 
you with bug-a-boos. Look here !” She circled around 
above the Violet, and pointed to the leaf they had been 
sitting under — the one from which the dragon had cut 
such a nice juicy slice — "Do you see,” said she, "that the 
dragon as you call him, is not here?” 

Sure enough, he was not. There was not a sign of 
him, except the hole which he had bitten in the poor leaf. 
And he was nowhere around, so far as they could see. 

"Where’s he gone?” asked Billy; and "I didn’t think 
he could run so fast,” said Betty, very much surprised. 

"No more could he,” answered Her Highness, "and 
it was not of himself that he went away, you may be sure. 
And no one knows where he has gone — ^no, sir! No 
oneT 

"Not even you?” asked Billy. 

"Not even I,” answered the Princess Dulcinea; then 
she dropped nearer. "Listen, children,” said she very 
cautiously, "no one knows — but — it was the shadow T 

"The shadow!” 

"The one we didn't see. Princess ?” 

158 


A Dim Knight of Darhness 

— sh! — Yes, the one you didn't see." 

^'But how could a shadow have anything to do with 
it?" asked Betty, ''I don’t understand that. Princess." 

‘‘No one does," answered the Princess, “that is what I 
am trying to tell you. But there is a shadow — a danger 
that hangs over us all, always. And this is what we 
saw, the lady Aea and I, as we came along — ^this shadow 
growing larger as it came nearer so swiftly, aimed 
straight for you! Oh, it was awful indeed! We tried 
to make you hear, and tried and tried; but you did not. 
And how we hurried ! As fast as our wings would bear 
us, we came — ^but we were oh, so far! And it came 
faster !’’ 

“Oh, yes," said the lady Aea, “faster and faster, and 
faster too, it came ! And then there was the whirr and 
rush we have seen so many times, and the great black 
mass ! — and then we were afraid to look, we were so sure 
one of you anyway would not be there where we had just 
seen you ! Is it any wonder we were terrified? Or that 
we trembled? Or that Her Highness scolded you? 
Oh! — it makes me quite faint and weak now, even to 
think of it." 

They all felt pretty weak and faint at hearing it, and 
trembly too, you may be sure. And it was some time 
before Betty ventured to ask, timidly, “if you please, 
Princess, what — ^what — is it?" 

159 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

The Princess buzzed her wings and wrung her fore 
feet together. ^'Who knows/' said she, ‘'who knows? 
Some say it is a Silver Tongue ; others say it is a Cackle. 
As for myself, I do not pretend to name it. I only 
know it comes, like many other things that are good in- 
stead of evil, from on high." 

“But oh. Your Serene Highness," said a modest little 
voice from near the ground, “this is not evil surely! 
This is good 1 Has it not saved me to-day, who am so 
powerless to save myself, from being eaten alive?" 

Of course it was none other than Violet herself who 
spoke; and with her fresh wound before them not one 
could deny her claim. “What's more, it's not the first 
time," she went on, “for these hideous dragons of the 
Caterpile are ever feeding on me and on my kind — some 
of them, at least. But every time, so far, I have been 
rescued happily, in just this same wonderful and mys- 
terious way — just as I have been in despair, too. And 
it is the same with many of my sisters here." 

“And indeed yours is not the only story that may be 
told," said another voice, not as gentle as Violet's but 
good and kindly. They looked all around to discover at 
last that it was a ruddy Tomato, over beyond the flower 
border, who was adding his testimony. “Again and 
again have I been the victim of the great, fat gluttonous 
devourers — and again and again have I been set free of 
i6o 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 

their evil jaws by this darting streak of night that never 
fails to strike them. So it cannot indeed be an evil 
thing, albeit the good sometimes suffer by it.’^ 

‘I’ll just bet it is a bird,” said Betty after thinking a 
moment, “for they eat tomato worms — and other worms, 
too.” 

“There! That’s what it was — worm — ^that I 
scented,” cried ’Patkin, “when you thought it was silly 
for me to bark while we were eating the bread. That’s 
just what it was, of course — worm! Only I couldn’t 
think of the name of it; and I didn’t know where it was.” 

“Well, if the shadow is a Silver Tongue,” said 
Tomato, “all I have to say is this — there wouldn’t be 
anything at all growing on this earth if it were not for 
them!” 

“Why, how is that?” inquired the Princess, somewhat 
severely. 

“Very simple, Your Highness. The greedy Caterpile 
would eat us all up, every one, and very soon ; then you 
wouldn’t have any of our flowers to gather honey from 
— and that would be the end of you; and sheep and cows 
wouldn’t have anything to eat, and that would be the end 
of them. And when they were all gone, the people 
wouldn’t have anything to eat — and that would be the 
end of them! So every living thing would starve and 
die miserably, one after another. I tell you it’s lucky 
i6i 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

for us and for everything else that there are such things 
as Silver Tongues — and even Cackles, though they don’t 
do as much. But every little helps, when there are such 
crowds of robbers and assassins to be held back.” 

Libellula came floating down just then, looking for his 
charges and very much disturbed at finding them gone 
without him. And Tomato appealed directly to him, 
asking him if what he had just said were not true — for 
the Princess and lady Aea were really a bit sulky about 
it. It did not seem to them that a rough creature like 
Tomato should presume to dispose of the whole earth- 
ful with such an air of finality. 

But Libellula agreed with him, after the conversation 
was explained. And so they at last came to understand 
the great good and benefit the Silver Tongues are to all 
the world, even though they are to be dreaded by many 
of the little creatures who do no harm. ‘T suppose it’s 
like the rain,” suggested Betty, ‘'that falls on the just 
and the unjust. They fall on the just and the unjust 
too — ^but prob’ly oftenest on the unjust, don’t you 
think?” 

“Probably,” said ’Patkin, to whom she spoke particu- 
larly. But he answered absent-mindedly — and as they 
climbed into their places between Libellula’s wings, he 
said, “Listen to this. I think I shall call it ‘Allies.’ ” 
And then he went on and recited. 

162 


A Dim Knight of Darkness 


‘‘ALLIES” 

“A bird is just a pretty bird, 

Above our heads its song is heard — 

Sweet, sweet, sweet — 

Hardly any one ever suspects. 

The good it does as it eats insects 1 

“Each hungry nestling in the trees. 

Devours an awful lot of these ! 

Worms, worms, worms! — 

And when they’re grown up, they must supply, 

Food to their bird-children, by-and-bye. 

“A toad is just a humble toad. 

Hopping along the dusty road. 

Hop, hop, hop — 

But if these queer knights were not around. 

Cutworms and such things would cover the ground I 

“Insects, too, are nothing but that. 

No matter where their habitat. 

Earth, air, water — 

But amongst them all some are benign. 

Because on the harmful ones they dine. 

“How many things there seem to be. 

To give their help to you and me; 

Friends, friends, friends — 

Ugly, beautiful, great and small. 

What should we do without them all?” 

“That’s very nice, I think,” said Betty, “and I’m so 
glad you put in that about Sir Bufo. We must never 
forget about him — never ! — for lots of the things that do 

163 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

the most harm would never be caught at all, if it weren’t 
for him.” 

''And yet he might eat us up, if it happened that way 
and we were not careful,” said Tatkin, "really I guess 
it’s pretty hard to find anything that is good for some- 
thing that isn’t bad for something else.” 

"Like me,” said Libellula, and chuckled, "I’m good for 
you — ^but I’m awful for the mosquitos !” And he 
dropped the dry shell of one that he had just finished 
and caught another, with one and the same movement, 
looking very mischievous about it as his great wings beat 
the air and bore them faster and faster and higher and 
higher — and away. 


164 



THE CASKETS OF ENCHANTMENT, 

‘Heigh-o ! — and well-a-day ! 

Some love work and some love play.” 

“I bind in the new moon^s ray,” 

‘‘And I the blue of sky by day;” 

“We hold fast the starlight bright,” 

“And we distil the mists of night;” 

“We catch the clouds all fleecy white ;” 

“Each one works with all his might,” 

“To fit and — join — and — ” 

B ut into the soft breeze the chorus faded away, 
leaving Betty and Billy and Tatkin looking all 
around everywhere, from Libellula’s back, to see whence 
it came. ‘^Oh, let’s go down over there,” cried Billy, 
who loved music, -^^it’s right down over there, I think. 
i6s 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

don't/* said 'Patkin, ‘‘it sounds over there, to me." 

“Oh, no," said Betty, “it sounds over there/' and in 
her turn she pointed in the direction it had seemed to her 
to be. 

Libellula laughed at them. “You're all of you right," 
said he, “for it's all over the garden — here, there and 
everywhere." 

“Who is it?" asked Betty. 

“Oh, the green workers, packing their chests." 

“What are they packing? And who are they?" 

“You heard them singing about what they are pack- 
ing — and they are — why, they are just the green 
workers." 

“But where are the chests? I don't see any," said 
Billy. 

“Oh, you can't see them. They're kept out of sight." 

“Dear me," cried Betty, “it's another mystery! Tell 
us, please, dear Libellula. What do you mean?" 

“Just what I have said," answered Libellula in a very 
provoking fashion. 

“Well, can't we go and see?" she persisted. 

“You can go down there if you want to," he answered, 
“but you can't see an3rthing." 

“Why not?" 

“Because no one ever did or ever can. I'll take you 
down, and prove it to you." 

i66 


The Caskets of Enchantment 

So down they went swiftly but lightly, as Libellula 
always flew, until they were almost on the ground. 
Then he skimmed about until he came to a great clump 
of something — what, they could not tell. For like most 
everything else it was so large that they could only see a 
portion of it at once, with their tiny human eyes, in their 
tiny form. This indeed was one of the things that 
bothered them more than anything else here — not being 
able to see but a little bit of anything, and so not being 
able to tell what a thing looked like all over. Unless 
you can tell what a thing looks like all over, you know it 
is pretty hard to be sure what it is. If you don’t believe 
this, try shutting your eyes almost up and then go quite 
close to something; and even if you know all about it, it 
will be pretty sure to look strange to you — so strange 
that if you did not know what it was, it might be pretty 
hard to guess. 

Of course every one that they had met here had such 
wonderful great eyes, that this never bothered them. 
Some indeed had two kinds of eyes ! And all of them, 
friends and foes alike, could look in ever so many di- 
rections at once, and take in the whole of any object, no 
matter how many times bigger than themselves it was. 

Sometimes indeed Betty had found herself almost en- 
vying these strange beings both their eyes and their legs ; 
but then the thought would come to her that they cer- 
167 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

tainly needed them both to get along in a world so full 
of perils and struggles as their world was. Her own 
two eyes and her arms and hands and wonderful fingers, 
with which she could do almost anything that she wished, 
served her quite as well, when she was at home. After 
all, it depended a good deal on where one was when they 
were at home — whether in this lowly, close-to-the- 
ground part of the world, or in the world as we know it, 
and as they had always known it until this adventure 
befell them. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by Libellula speaking. 
‘Terhaps if you get down and walk about here, you may 
be able to hear more — even if you don’t see anything,” 
he was saying. So he settled on to the ground and tilted 
his wings and let them step off; and then he hovered 
just above their heads to guard them, swinging lazily 
to and fro. 

There were many big, green clumps that they did not 
recognize, scattered about irregularly. Presently they 
heard some one say, ''Oh — h! Isn’t this sky color just 
perfect to-day? I must get a lot of it before it changes.” 

‘‘And I must catch a lot of those fleecy little cloud- 
lets,” said some one else, “don’t often find them just that 
bright, gleamy white !” 

“How about last night’s mist? Coming along all 
right?” asked a third. 


i68 


The Caskets of Enchantment 

‘We’ve enough for to-day ; but it ’s so very sweet now, 
we can’t have too much — so we must look alive to- 
night,” said still another. 

‘‘How are they getting along in the row over there?” 
It was the first speaker again. 

“Not as fast as they ought, I think; but they get only 
half their due of sunlight. So of course they can’t do as 
well as we — poor things.” 

“Why, they’re Daffodils!” cried Betty and ’Patkin, 
making the discovery at one and the same time, “seel 
These are Daffy-down-dillys, Billy. What is it they are 
doing?” 

“Well, what do you suppose we are doing?” said the 
one nearest to her, “can’t you see?” 

She shook her head. “No, I cannot. Miss Daffodil,” 
said she, “but I’d love to know. Won’t you tell me?” 

“Why, surely,” said Miss Daffodil, with a roguish 
look at her neighbor, “we’re doing our packing.” 

“But what are you packing?” asked Billy, looking 
about to see. 

“The caskets,” answered she, with another look. 

''What caskets, if you please?” 

“Why, the caskets of enchantment, of course — silly 
little boy!” 

“But where are they? I don’t see any, anywhere.” 

The Daffodils all laughed— for they are very jolly you 
169 


Wonder days and W onderways Through Flowerland 

know, and full of mischief. Then one of them said, 
‘They are hidden.’’ 

“And are you going away?” asked Betty, thinking it 
better manners not to urge them, if they did not want to 
answer her brother’s question. 

“No — ^but we’re packing just the same.” 

Really, it was very trying; and Betty could have 
jumped up and down with curiosity and impatience. 
But she held on to herself very tightly, and made up her 
mind that she would not let them tease her. And in a 
minute the Daffodil went on, “And everything has to be 
folded so carefully and neatly! My! — ^you’ve no idea 
what skill and care it takes.” 

“But I don’t see anything to be packed, nor anything 
to pack in,” said Betty, resolutely. She was not going 
to be fooled into believing anything at all that they chose 
to tell her ! 

“Of course you can’t, my dear,” the Daffodils were all 
laughing again, “no one ever sees it till afterward — 
long, long afterward. But then — r 

“But then — echoed all of them, in their merry 
voices. 

“Why,” demanded ’Patkin who had not spoken before 
but felt that it was time to help his little friend out, “do 
you pack nothing into nothing if you are not going 
away?” 


170 


The Caskets of Enchantment 

This they thought was a great joke, and laughed and 
laughed, rustling their leaves together and bending this 
way and that. Betty noticed that some of the leaves 
were brownish, instead of the clear green of the others 
— brownish and dry it seemed, at their tops especially. 

*']vist because we’re not/' said one at last, breathless 
from laughter, ‘‘that’s the reason we do it; but it’s not 
nothing into nothing, you saucy fellow. If there is any- 
thing less like nothing than this cloudlet fabric, for in- 
stance, I’d like to have you tell me where ! And fancy 
tucking in every little edge, and turning under every 
tiny puff, and pressing it all down so that it can come 
out again as smooth as a maiden’s cheek ! The idea of 
your suggesting it was nothing into nothing ! The very 
ideaf' 

She sounded so very much offended that ’Patkin made 
haste to apologize. “But I really think it most mystify- 
ing, just the same,” said he. 

“Well, if you must know,” cried a bigger one than all 
the others, “after we get through packing, we creep in 
ourselves and go to sleep! Does that make it any 
clearer?” 

Of course it did not; it made it all the more difficult 
to understand — and really, the Daffodils knew that it 
would, most likely. They are such jokers! 

Betty was nearly wild. “Oh, if you’d please be 


Wonder days and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

serious/" she cried, ‘1 didn’t know flowers could tanta- 
lize any one so !” 

'Well, well, well!” said several of them in tones of 
surprise and new interest, "of course if you really want 
to know, little girl — ” 

"Oh, of course I want to know,” she entreated, "we 
all want to. For we love the flowers — and I’m going 
on a mission when I get home, to rescue all of them in 
the world and all the trees and everything from the 
wicked brigands and buccaneers and t — torments ! And 
I don’t think it’s very nice of you to try and tease 
us!” 

"Well, well, well'' said they all again. 

Then the large one laughed in her breezy fashion and 
said, "Don’t you mind, little Betty. We have to have 
a little fun, now and then. And we didn’t know you 
really wanted to know; for there are a great many peo- 
ple in the world who try to find out things without really 
wanting to know them — or really caring anything about 
them. But now you shall hear all about it — if you’ll all 
promise me one thing.” 

"Of course we will,” cried the three of them, "we’ll 
promise whatever you tell us, dear Miss Daffodil.” 

"Well, I shall not ask you to promise anything that 
you ought not to promise,” said she, "you are a little 
rash you know, in saying you’ll promise anything until 
172 


The Caskets of Enchantment 

you know what it is. Be careful about that in future. 
It might get you into trouble.'’ 

‘'Yes, Miss Daffodil,” they answered, one after the 
other. 

“Very well. Now, the thing you must promise me is 
this — that no matter how surprised you are at them, nor 
how common you may think they look, you will not de- 
spise these caskets which we pack with such precious 
things, nor allow any one else ever to treat them lightly 
or with contempt.” 

“We promise,” said they in concert, “never to despise 
these caskets, nor to allow any one to treat them with 
contempt.” 

“Good ! And now you must promise me that you will 
always handle them very carefully and gently, if any are 
ever put into your keeping, no matter how grubby they 
seem — remembering how precious and rare their con- 
tents are.” 

“We promise,” said they again, wondering more and 
more. 

“Good !” said she again. Then she waited a moment 
before she went on, as if she were thinking of the best 
way to begin. “You see,” said she at last, “they are 
very carefully locked, after the workers have packed 
them and we have crept into them and gone fast asleep ; 
and it doesn't make any difference how much you know 

173 


W onderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

about them, nor how much I tell you of the secret here 
and now, you cannot unlock them yourselves — ^and no 
one else ever can, either.” 

^'But who does unlock them, then?” asked Billy. 

‘‘No one,” said the Daffodil, shaking her head, “that 
you ever saw or ever will see. No one in all this wide 
world can unlock them ; but you can help to do it.” 

“How?” 

“Listen carefully; that’s what I am going to tell you 
now. The only way to unlock one and open it is to put 
it away off out of sight where nobody can see it — not 
even yourself — nor take the least peep at it; and to leave 
it there and not touch it again, nor try to open it !” 

“Good — gracious !” whispered Tatkin, “how can any- 
body unlock anything by not trying to unlock it?” 

“That’s the only way to do with these caskets, 
though,” insisted Daffodil; and then turning to her 
neighbors, she said, “Isn’t it?” 

“It is indeed,” answered each and every one of them, 
“the only way.” 

“But I don’t see — ” he began again. 

“That’s just it; and you’re not to see,” laughed she, 
“that’s what I am trying to impress upon you.” 

“ ’Patkin, dear, please don’t interrupt her,” said 
Betty, “wait till she’s finished telling about it.” 

“Of course,” went on the Daffy, “there’s only one 

174 


The Caskets of Enchantment 

place in the world really, where you can be sure of hiding 
anything as securely as these must be hidden. And of 
course you can guess that that is right down in the 
ground. That is all there is to it! You help to unlock 
the caskets by putting them down into the ground, and 
leaving them alone !” 

‘‘But that isn’t unlocking them at all,” cried Billy, 
“where is the key? How can they get unlocked way 
down in the dark?” 

“That’s for the Sun and the Wind and the Rain to tell 
you — not I,” she shook her leaves and sighed a little 
sigh, “you are a very curious little boy. But remember 
it takes something more than curiosity to learn — really 
to learn — about anything.” 

“But you have not told us! And you said you 
would — ” he began; but she interrupted him again. 

“Oh, yes, I have,” said she, laughing, “I’ve told you 
all about it.” 

“Why, Miss Daffodil ! How can you say that? You 
didn’t tell us what really happens at all. What hap- 
pens?'' 

Again she laughed. “Why, the caskets open,” said 
she, “if you are careful to do just exactly as I have said; 
and we wake up, and will come right up out of them, 
wearing all these lovely things we have packed away — 
robes of the blue of the sky, and the white of the clouds, 

175 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

and the gold of the sun, and the silver of the moon, and 
the brightness of the stars — and all fragrant with the 
perfume of the night mists !” 

‘‘Oh, Miss Daffy-down-dilly,” cried Betty with a sud- 
den delighted little squeal, ‘'they’re the bulbs ! They’re 
the bulbs, aren’t they?” 

“Why to be sure,” said Daffy, “that’s what they are. 
Now, how in the world did you guess?” 

“Oh, Miss Daffodil,” cried Betty again, beginning to 
understand what mischievous things these flowers were, 
“I’m so glad you told us that way. It was lots of fun !” 

“Well, now you can run along and leave us to finish,” 
said Miss Daffodil, smiling at her, “for we have no time 
to waste.” 

“But I don’t quite understand yet who — that is, how 
you pack ’em,” said Betty, after a moment, “are the 
flowers all down there in them, now ?” 

“And could we see them,” asked her brother, “if we 
peeked in?” 

“If you knew where to look, maybe you could,” an- 
swered Miss Daffy, “unless you happened to look into 
one that was not well packed.” 

“But why aren’t they always well packed?” asked 
Betty, rather shocked at the thought that there were 
any shirkers. 

“Because the work is interrupted, sometimes — ^that’s 
176 


The Caskets of Enchantment 

one reason — and sometimes there are little caskets, just 
growing, that don’t hold enough.” 

‘It’s mostly that we’re interrupted — we don’t get a 
chance to finish,” spoke up a Crocus that lived next door 
to her, “as I didn’t, this summer — for all my leaves were 
cut away. And now I shall have no flowers to show, 
when the next spring comes around !” 

He spoke rather sadly, and at once they felt very sorry 
for him. “How did it happen?” asked ’Patkin sympa- 
thetically. 

“I don’t know,” answered the Crocus, “but I suppose 
it was because old Simon was not here to watch out.” 

“Who took them?” asked Billy. 

“I don’t know ; some one who did not know what they 
were, I suppose.” 

“What they were?” repeated Betty; “why, every one 
knows leaves, don’t they?” 

“A-ha,” answered the Crocus, “every one may know 
leaves — yes. But I can’t believe that every one knows 
what a leaf is to me — or to my friends and neighbors 
there, the Dafifodils and the Hyacinths and the Tulips 
and all of us that store our flowers and ourselves away 
in our caskets.” 

Betty was very curious ; but she wondered whether she 
ought to ask any more questions or not. While she was 
wondering, Mr. Crocus went on, without waiting to be 
177 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

asked. ‘It’s just too discouraging,” said he with a sigh, 
“to try to do anything in the face of such ignorance! 
Here am I, perfectly helpless without my workers — my 
leaves, I mean. I can’t even grow any more ! — not this 
year, at least. Yet I expect they will blame me, and 
say. That Crocus bulb couldn’t have been any good. It 
hasn’t bloomed but just once.’ When it’s their own 
fault!” 

“Well, it’s a shame,” said Betty, “but perhaps if you 
could explain to me a little more I could tell them about 
it when I get home.” 

“Oh, 1 doubt it,” said he, sighing again ; he was very 
much discouraged, there was no mistaking that, and 
everything looked pretty gloomy to him. But Betty 
said “Oh !” in such a sorrowful and such a winning little 
way that he chirked up a bit, and glanced at her with 
some hope. “You don’t suppose you could, really?” he 
asked, after a moment. 

“Well, I’d try'* she answered, with very sweet 
earnestness. 

“That’s very good of you,” answered he, though still 
gloomy, “I must say that’s very good of you. But I’m 
afraid it won’t do me any good !” Here he stopped and 
sighed two or three times. Then he resumed. “How- 
ever, it’s simply this — ^leaves are so much to us because 
they do all our work^ you see. They gather the ma- 
178 


The Caskets of Enchantment 

terials, and make the flowers, and pack them into the 
caskets ; and then after weVe crept in ourselves to sleep 
till spring comes again, they fasten these up snug and 
close. And if they are taken away from us — if we’re 
robbed of them! — there is no one else can do all this. 
And there’s nothing can do it! So it cannot be done! 
That’s all.” 

"‘Don’t the flowers ever work?” 

"‘Mercy, no — that is, not in that way. They have 
special work of their own to do — making seeds is their 
job — and a very wonderful work it is, too. But the 
leaves must do theirs first. Flowers can’t do anything 
unless the leaves are there to do their part. Neither can 
the roots do what they have to ; nothing can do its part 
without our dear faithful green leaves — and mine, alas, 
were stolen from me !” 

"‘I wonder if some one wanted them to work for 
them,” suggested ’Patkin. 

""No,” said the Crocus, "‘that isn’t likely, I don’t be- 
lieve. But they didn’t know any better, I suppose! 
They thought after I had given them my feast of blos- 
soms and had no more to give, they could get along 
without seeing me at all ; so they just snipped them away, 
never caring how I felt about it — or what I needed !” 

He sighed again, and then was silent, brooding 
over the injustice, maybe. And Betty looked around 

m 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

thoughtfully, at the many kinds of leaves all about — 
above them and on every side. Working, 'working, 
working — all of them working — silently, most of the 
time ; always silently, so far as she had ever known until 
she came here, where they could be understood and could 
understand. And constantly, without ever growing 
weary or wanting to do anything else, they work; and 
secretly too, so that no one ever would suspect it. In- 
deed do they not make less fuss about themselves than 
anything else that grows, and do less to make folks look 
at them and remember they are there? 

^'Goodness,^' said she at last, ‘1 never thought of such 
a thing! I didn’t s’pose that anything about plants ever 
worked,^" 

^‘Ha— ha— ha 1” laughed a Daffodil, ^^he— he ! What 
on earth did you suppose we were doing? How did you 
suppose we grew? And how did you think flowers got 
themselves made, if we didn’t work and make them? 
Or fruits? Work? Well, I should say so! All of the 
time we work — only we like it and just can’t help doing 
it; so we’re different from people — or from some people 
— ^you see.” 

"'Hooray ! I’m ready,” cried some one from well down 
the line, "every last bit tucked in and folded down — and 
my casket ready to shut up tight and lock ! And if I do 
say it myself, I’ve got a cargo aboard this fall that will 
i8o 


The Caskets of Enchantment 

make them open their eyes when I fetch it out in the 
spring — after Sun and Wind and Rain wake me up. 
But Fm tired now — and I think Vwe earned my rest.’’ 

It was a very yellow looking and straggly Daffodil 
that was talking, and Betty said to her brother, 'Those 
leaves look all dried up. I guess that poor Daffodil 
wants a drink.” 

He overheard her. "No — no drink again this year,” 
said he laughing once more, though not very heartily — • 
he was tired, and no mistake — "not another thing to eat 
or drink this fall ! And I’ll be sound asleep by morning, 
or I miss my guess.” 

"Well, I may as well go to sleep too,” said the sad 
voiced little Crocus, "I can’t do anything staying here, 
with no workers to help me. Really, if this happens to 
me again, I don’t believe I’ll try to come back in the 
spring! It’s too discouraging — and what’s the use? 
I don’t want to live if I can’t bloom.” 

"Oh, please don’t say that,” cried Betty, almost ready 
to cry for sympathy at his sad voice and the trouble he 
was in, "please come back next spring — and ’Patkin will 
tell his dear Lady and it will never happen to you again, 
I am sure. Don’t go to sleep without cheering up a lit- 
tle, please, Mr. Crocus! It’s dreadful! It makes us 
all so unhappy and sad for you.” 

"Well, well,” said he, "that’s very kind of you. I’m 
i8i 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

sure — to take an interest. And I will come back this 
next year, surely; but honestly I don't believe I could 
live through it, if they robbed me again — even if I 
wanted to ever so much. It takes the heart out of a fel- 
low so!" 

''I had it happen to me once," said a big and sturdy 
Daffodil, ^^and I know just how he feels. Some one 
snipped every worker away just about the time they 
snipped off the grasses for the first time; and, of course, 
there was an end of me for two years! But I pushed 
up again when I was wakened in the spring, for all the 
world as if I had had every chance to do my packing and 
flower making — and for some reason I was let alone 
that year, and had all the time I wanted to get all my 
work done. And I just made up for lost time, I can 
tell you. Packed my kit so full of the moonlight and 
sunlight and starlight gold that it was all I could do to 
get it closed and fastened — and so when the next spring 
came around, I just dazzled everybody with it! And 
I've been very popular since that, if I do say it as 
shouldn't." 

'It's a great pity," said a very seedy looking Hyacinth 
that had not spoken before, "it certainly is a great pity, 
and most unfortunate, that there is such a general idea 
of keeping everything so spick and span everywhere 
182 


The Caskets of Enchantment 

about. I tell you a fellow^s entitled to some time to 
himself — some chance to get into rags and tatters— if 
he’s going to be himself at all Can’t be on parade all 
the time!” 

‘That’s just it,” said the Crocus, “that’s just what 
was the matter in my case, I’m sure. My blossoms had 
gone, and I wasn’t much to look at — ^but I was busy as I 
could be, making the ones for next year. Along came 
somebody though who said ‘This isn’t very tidy — and no 
flowers here either. Let’s cut away these Crocus’ tops 
and plant something over them,’ and that’s what they 
did. And where am I ? Out of it for two years — that’s 
where I am 1” 

“Well, we can’t help it,” sighed Hyacinth, “but it’s 
pretty hard to be blamed for it, when you’re not to 
blame. ‘Plague take those hyacinths,’ I heard them say 
— ^just the other day, ‘why can’t they behave themselves? 
One year they blossom and the next they don’t — and you 
never can tell what they’re going to do!’ Of course I 
shouted the reason why at them, at the top of my voice. 
‘Leave us our leaves till they go of themselves,’ I yelled, 
‘then we’ll show you !’ But the stupids paid no attention 
— and were half way down to the end of the walk when 
I finished. So I had all my shouting for nothing.” 

“Oh, dear !” sighed another. “Humans are pe- 
culiar !” 

1183 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

^‘Aren't they, though?’’ 

‘'And eccentric !” 

“And unreasoning!” 

“And they think they know so much !” 

Don't they, though?” 

Betty was aghast at this ; but after all, from the plants’ 
point of view, she wondered if it were not righteous 
judgment. Here were these bulbs, for instance; they 
had been planted there by some one who wanted to 
see their flowers, every spring. And yet this same 
some one, perhaps, took away from them over and over 
again the only means they had of making flowers — and 
then scolded because they made none. No wonder they 
thought humans very peculiar. Of course it was be- 
cause they did not know any better ; but why didn’t they 
know better? That was the question. “Oh, dear,” 
said she, “I wish you could have Alec take care of you, 
Mr. Crocus and Misses Daffodil and Mr. Hyacinth. 
He wouldn’t be so ec-ec-centric — would he?” and she 
appealed to her brother and to ’Patkin, eagerly. 

“Course he wouldn’t,” said Billy. And “Certainly 
not!" replied ’Patkin, very decidedly. “Old Simon was 
not stupid, either; I think you forget yourselves — and 
him — when you say such things about humans gener- 
ally.” 

“Well of course,” began the seedy looking Hyacinth, 
184 


The Caskets of Enchantment 

course some of them are different. Some of them 
— ah — ow — wow — are — are — ’’ but he had begun to 
yawn, and though he got through the first time without 
stopping his speech, this second one was too much for 
him. ^'Oh, never mind what they are,’’ said he after he 
finished it, ‘Vho cares? I’m dead to the world — and so 
good-winter, friends and neighbors. Fm going to 
sleep.” 

'^Good-winter,” cried this one and that one, "good- 
winter to you, neighbor Hyacinth. Pleasant dreams! 
See you in the spring.” 

"Yes — in the spring,” replied Hyacinth in a drowsy 
voice ; and the wisps of his leaves rattled in the breeze so 
that ’Patkin remarked that he certainly was all dried up. 

"Yes,” said the biggest Daffodil, "when their work is 
done our workers go away, you see — or dry up, which is 
the same thing, really. For instead of being green 
leaves they are just brown husks of leaves then; so if 
you want to know when the work is all done, watch them. 
That’s all ! They’ll tell you by their looks so plainly that 
they won’t need to speak.” 

"And can’t the old dead leaves be cut off?” asked 
Betty, who disliked to see things untidy, and yet was 
thinking of the Hyacinth’s complaint about people who 
wanted the garden too spick and span. 

"Surely they can — after they are old and brown 
185 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

and dead/’ replied Daffodil, '^they’re no more use to us 
then than worn out clothes to you. The trouble is that 
you don’t wait until then, though. You are forever 
stealing them from us when they are green and living.” 

^'Brown and dead, brown and dead, green and living, 
green and living,” came whisperings from here and 
there — whisperings that began to take on a little sing- 
song and to grow louder, until, with the Daffodils lead- 
ing them, all the bulbs burst forth into a part-song. 

CHORAL 

“It’s plainly to be seen. 

Whilst living leaves and green 
With us abide, with us abide, 

The time is not yet here 
For cleaning up, — not near! — 

And if it’s tried, oh, woe betide ! 

“Not till they’re brown and dead 
Have all our workers fled. 

Their task complete, their task complete; 

Then is done their duty. 

Ready is the beauty 

With which we’ll greet, new springtime sweet. 

“But we can’t spare a one. 

Before this work is done, — 

Please remember, please remember! 

And though some mature early, 

Some bulbs aren’t ripe — ^thor’ly, — 

Till September, late September.” 



THE SLEEPING LEGIONS AND THE MAGIC 
DUST 

T hey were just about to climb up to Libellula's 
back and resume their ride when along came the 
Princess Dulcinea in the greatest state of excitement 
you could imagine. ‘'Oh/’ she cried breathlessly, “oh, 
the strangest thing has happened that has ever hap- 
pened, I am sure ! Really, I don’t know what to make 
of it!” 

“Do tell,” said Libellula, with a look of mild interest, 
keeping one section of his eye on the children as they 
walked up his wing. 

“Well, indeed I will tell — and you must explain it, if 
you can. Of course nobody can; but you must try.” 

187 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

'Til do my best/’ he answered, rather drily. 

She sounded her call ; and then she sat on a lily flower 
and told her tale, as the clan assembled. 

"Of course,” said she, "I started out as usual this 
morning, at the usual time ; and I came, as I knew that 
I should, to the space above the amethyst and sapphire 
fountains, just at the moment when the Sun peered up 
over the rim of day. And there I floated in the bath of 
pure light for a bit — but really the scents which rose to 
me were so delicious that I could not long resist them, 
even for this pleasure. So I lowered myself lightly, as 
I love to do, until I stood on the threshold of one of the 
greatest and loveliest of the fountains — a wonderful 
blossom indeed, you may believe. And almost the 
moment my feet touched it, the keeper’s voice spoke to 
me, from beyond — as the keepers always speak. 'Oh, 
fair Princess Dulcinea,’ he called out to me, 'will you test 
my basin’s brimming sweetness? Welcome, then, with- 
in this azure tinted shelter and pray you, tarry and rest 
awhile’ — just the way they always talk, you know. Of 
course I was not in need of rest, and told him so — ” 

"You had but just started,” said Libellula, with a 
little laugh, "what could he have thought ?” 

"I don’t know,” said the Princess, "but that’s what he 
said. Of course I answered that I was not in need of 
rest; whereupon he replied, 'But this is a lovely spot; 

i88 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

tarry awhile, Princess, and see its beauties/ Now, o£ 
course you all know that these are lovely spots — these 
fountains; and as IVe just told you, this was a rarely 
lovely one, large and finer than you often find. And so 
of course, wishing to be polite, and admiring it sincerely 
too, I said that it was indeed lovely — and examined it; 
and really, such workmanship! And such cunning in 
the art of color — and of construction! Such a deep, 
cool basin ! Oh, it was like a dream ! — and I remarked 
as much. And then what do you think he said?’’ 

‘^Oh, tell us,” cried every one. 

‘Why, that this fountain’s beauty was beyond pur- 
chase and beyond price, truly — still, beautiful as it was, 
this azure tinted basin was only the beginning — a prepa- 
ration. Which of course we’ve all heard — or something 
like it, somewhere, sometime. And I told him so, add- 
ing however that I myself had never been able to see that 
anything special came afterwards. To this he an- 
swered, ‘No — you could not see, for it’s done in secret; 
and these walls fade into ruin; and nothing remains to 
interest you, oh fair daughter of beauty and sweetness. 
Princess of the Apis !’ Now, what do you think about 
that?” 

There was a great clamor — as every one tried to tell 
what they thought about it — in answer to her question. 
But she did not want them to answer, it seemed, after 
189 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

all ; for she had more to tell. And so she made the royal 
signal for silence, and gradually it grew quiet once 
more. 

‘'I just gasped at that, you may be sure,’’ she went 
on, ‘what,’ said I, ‘these walls? Fall into ruinf' My 
dears, it was awful to think of ! Inlays of amethyst and 
coral on sapphire, and clear sapphire — and glints of 
topaz and emerald here and there, and mother of pearl — 
all blending and mingling! It was unthinkable! 
‘Why,’ said I, ‘what misfortune befalls? What hap- 
pens? What do you mean?’ And his answer only 
made it worse and worse. ‘No misfortune, Princess,’ 
said he, as calmly as I am saying it now this minute — 
or more so — ‘no misfortune’ — ^just like that. You can 
imagine that I was all a-quiver with excitement by that 
time — for plainly I was about to learn of something en- 
tirely new and strange. So I bade him explain. But 
he only responded by saying, ‘Come inside. Princess.’ ” 

“And you did?” asked Betty. 

“Indeed I did, as fast as I could! Went in, and right 
up to the side of the nectar basin before he spoke again. 
Then he said very softly and as if he were actually tell- 
ing the great secret, ‘Yonder, Princess Dulcinea, beneath 
this basin, hidden deep away, lies a secret chamber’ — and 
then he stopped and waited so long I thought I should 
die of impatience. ‘And in this secret chamber,’ said he 
190 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

at last, ^there sleeps — ’ and there he stopped again, and 
I could have screamed! But I only said, ‘Yes, yes! 
There sleeps — ^go on, good keeper, go on!' And then 
what do you suppose he said?’’ 

“Oh, what? What did he say then?” gasped every 
one. 

“Why, he said, very slowly and in a deep whisper, 
‘There sleeps that which no eyes can see and no hands 
can touch, and which nothing is too small even as noth- 
ing is great enough, to contain !’ ” 

“What did he mean?” cried several from here and 
there. Even Libellula looked very much interested and 
puzzled. 

“That’s just it. What did he mean?” 

“Oh, didn’t he tell you. Princess?” cried Betty, breath- 
lessly. 

“No, he did not,” answered the Princess with much 
agitation, “the only answer he would make to my ques- 
tions was, ‘Guess my riddle and you shall know.’ And 
not another thing could I get out of him, except just 
‘yes’es’ and ‘no’s.’ Was there a key to this secret 
chamber? I asked him. ‘Yes.’ Had he it? ‘No!’ 
Where was it? He did not know. Where was the 
door? There was none! Would they-who-slept-there- 
in always sleep? ‘No!’ Would they-who-slept-therein 
ever come forth? ‘Yes!’ When? ‘In the fulness of 
191 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

time/ When would that be? He ^knew not!’ And 
so on, until I was nigh to distraction, I assure you — 
and weary beyond words. So at last I turned to refresh 
me at the basin of this fountain, my mind made up to 
ask him nothing more! And then I walked lightly, as 
is my habit, back to the fountain’s entrance over the 
azure-violet pavement, and at once started to take wing. 
But what do you suppose he said to me then?'' 

From the tone with which she said this, it was certain 
that she had come to a still more remarkable part of her 
story than any she had yet told. And of course every 
one was just that much more excited and wrought up 
and eager to hear the answer. ‘^Oh, Princess ! 
What?” they cried, in an agitated chorus. 

‘Why, he thanked me,” said the princess slowly and 
with great emphasis, dwelling on each word so that their 
wonder as to what the next was going to be grew and 
grew, “he thanked me; and then he said to me. Thrice 
happy am I, fair Princess Dulcinea, that I have been able 
to entertain you. For it is you yourself who have 
brought here, and left, the secret chamber’s golden 
keys!’ ” 

''Yourself, Princess!” “How could that be?” 
“Why, did you have keys with you?” “What did he 
mean?” These and others like them were the cries 
from every side that greeted this mysterious speech 
192 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

which she repeated to them; and the excitement that 
seized upon every one present was at the boiling point. 
‘‘What did you say to him/’ cried some one at last, so 
loudly that it rang out above all the rest. 

“What did I say to him?” repeated the Princess, 
“why, I just fairly shrieked at him, ‘What have I to do 
with it? I brought no keys, nor saw none! You must 
be out of your mind !’ And then he laughed at me, and 
laughed and laughed! ‘You saw no keys, Princess, ’tis 
true,’ said he,, ‘but brought them. And even now 
they’ve found the lock — if not a door !’ ” 

“Well, what in the world do you make of it?” de- 
manded the twin Princess Dulciana, “what do you make 
of it?” 

“What do I make of it?” repeated the Princess 
Dulcinea, so much agitated over the experience that she 
trembled until the lily on which she sat bobbed about and 
waved as if a wind blew it, “what can anybody make of 
it. I’d like to know? Nothing! Just nothing at all! 
What he was talking about, and what it all means is 
quite beyond my wits to figure out. And I’m nearly 
wild about it !” 

Everybody fell to guessing and making suggestions; 
but no one seemed to be satisfied with their own nor any 
one else’s guess, and there was a perfect bedlam of voices 
for the next few minutes — without any one getting any 

193 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

nearer the truth of the matter than they were in the 
beginning. 

‘Wouldn't you love to see this lovely fountain, Billy?" 
asked Betty of her brother, as they watched and waited 
to see what was going to happen and what they all 
thought about it finally, “I would." 

“Oh, do you s’pose we could?" asked Billy eagerly. 

“Could we, do you think, dear Libellula?" She put 
the question to him, because she had no idea herself how 
to answer it. 

“Why, yes," said Libellula, “I guess you can. 
There's nothing to hinder, that I know of — though I 
think it might be well to speak to the princess about it 
first." 

It was not an easy matter to reach her side, and to 
get her to listen, in the midst of such a hub-bub ; but they 
attracted her attention at last, and told her what they 
wanted to do. And she said, “Well, go ahead if you 
want to!" almost before the words were out of their 
mouths, she was that upset and excited. So away they 
went ; and they came almost at once to the place where 
this particular fountain was. 

Of course the children were very surprised when they 
saw it; for no one — least of all they — would have sup- 
posed it was anything but a larkspur blossom, nodding 
on a tall spike along with many more of its kind. In- 
194 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

deed, they thought that Libellula must have made a mis- 
take when he said, ‘There it is! That’s it, right 
there.” 

“Why, there isn’t any fountain here,” exclaimed 
Betty, looking this way and that as he came to a stop on 
one of the leaves. “You’re mistaken, Libellula. We’d 
see it if there were.” 

“My dear little girl,” said Libellula, laughing pleas- 
antly, “you are not looking for the kind of thing that 
people call a fountain, are you ?” 

“Why, yes,” said she, “isn’t that what it is?” 

“Now stop a minute and think,” said he, “could it be 
that kind of fountain that the Princess Dulcinea visited? 
You know it could not, when you remember all the cir- 
cumstances.” 

“Of course,” said Betty, rather taken back, “I forgot 
where we were — and how small ! The Princess couldn’t 
go walking around such a great fountain and into it, 
very well — sure enough.” 

“So,” said Libellula, “you see there may be a fountain 
here after all. And of course there is — or I wouldn’t 
have brought you here. If you’ll dismount and take a 
look around right in there” — he pointed with one of his 
fore feet into the blossom, “I’ll guarantee that you’ll 
find it’s what we are looking for.” 

They had rather a hard time of it stepping from their 

195 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

winged friend's back upon the flower in such a way that 
they would not miss their footing. For flowers, you 
know, are not made for boys and girls and dogs to walk 
around upon, even though they are very tiny specimens 
of boy and girl and dog. Tatkin did not have as much 
trouble as the children, however; for of course his four 
feet were more like the six of the insect world than the 
two that they had always found sufflcient. But even he 
had plenty of difficulty, for the cushions on his paws 
were not made to stick to any sort of thing, regardless of 
whether its owner is right side up, or upside down. 

This particular fountain — or larkspur blossom — was 
in a position that helped them, however; which was 
lucky, else they never would have been able to climb 
into it. For it stood well toward the top of the flower 
spike, and looked up instead of drooping its head as 
most of the other flowers did. And so its floor — quite 
as beautiful as the princess Dulcinea had said, with its 
blendings of turquoise and amethyst and coral — was 
almost level; and they finally managed to reach the 
chamber wherein was the basin of which she had spoken 
with such delight. ‘‘Such a deep, cool basin," she had 
said; and that is just what it was — deep and cool and 
wondrous, as they peered into it. They saw no keeper 
though; and Billy was just about asking where they 
supposed he had gone, when he spoke to them. But 
196 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

they did not see him then, nor at all afterwards — so 
don’t expect to learn what he looked like. 

‘Who are you,” said he, “that come here, unbidden?” 

They looked this way and that, wishing to explain; but 
seeing no one, they looked at each other, and did not 
know what to say. 

“Who are you,” he repeated, “that come here unbid- 
den ? Look not for me, for I am never seen by the eyes 
of any creature. But answer my question as if ye saw 
me. 

“We are a brother and sister from the Orphanage,” 
began Betty, but Tatkin interrupted her. 

“Permit me,” said he, and then drew himself up with 
the dignity that he thought fitting to his position and the 
position of his little friends. “These are my charges,” 
said he, “visitors from the great world of the Over- 
lords. We come to view the beauties of which we have 
learned from the Apis Princess, Dulcinea, of the 
Buzfuz province. And our names are Betty — and 
Billy — and Tatkin.” He motioned to each of them, 
and then indicated himself as he spoke his own name. 

“Oh — ho,” said the keeper’s voice, less chilly in its ac- 
cents at the mention of the Princess Dulcinea, “are you 
indeed friends of the Princess?” 

“We are,” replied ’Patkin, “friends of the Princess, 
and more; we are under her special guardianship, and 
197 


W onderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

travel by the great wings of Libellula, her kinsman, the 
dragon of the air, the king of all their kingdoms.” 

‘Indeed,” said the voice, “then your dispositions are 
friendly to my charge here. But until I know, I must 
always doubt and fear; for there are many who travel 
the ways of the air, who are robbers and enemies so 
deadly that the life of each and all is menaced by them. 
I dreaded lest you were some of these — some new and 
strange enemy, come to torment.” 

“Of course you'd never know us,” said Betty, “I don't 
blame you a bit. But we wouldn't do any harm for 
anything ! The Princess told us about coming here this 
morning, and that made us want so much to do so, that 
she said we might. And oh, it's so lovely !” 

“You think so?” asked the voice, “well, it's good you 
came to-day — for to-morrow this will have changed. 
And perhaps you would like it less — though you should 
not.” 

“Will have changed?” repeated 'Patkin in a question- 
ing tone, “in what manner, if I may ask, oh keeper of 
the flower fountain?” 

“The sleepers are stirring,” said the keeper, as if that 
explained everything. 

“The sleepers !” whispered Betty — and they looked at 
each other. Then she took a long breath, and said, 
“Sleepers, Mr. Keeper?” pretending very hard not to 
198 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

appear too much interested — only just polite and 
attentive. 

‘The sleepers that lie beneath the basin/' answered 
he — ^just as if that explained it! 

“Oh/' said she, “is some one asleep down — down- 
stairs?" She was looking at the basin and its sweet 
contents with eyes that it almost seemed must see 
through and underneath, they were so earnest and eager. 

“They were asleep," answered the keeper, “but al- 
ready they stir, faintly — faintly." 

“Did we waken them?" asked Billy. 

“No," said the keeper, “you didn't waken them; and 
no one wakened them. No one could waken them; but 
they waken." 

“There's some of that yellow dust," whispered Betty, 
pointing to a trail of it across the shining pavement, 
“that's always on the Princess’ velvet jerkin. Must be 
that’s where she walked." 

It was a very soft whisper in which she said this ; but 
like nearly everything they had met here, this keeper of 
the fountain must have had sharp ears ; for he heard it. 

“Dust," said he, in a dreamy tone, “golden dust! 
Marking a bee track, just as you say, little lady — show- 
ing where a dear little dusty summer-day pilgrim has 
trod, making her way to drink of the nectar stored in- 
side. Magic dust — more precious, always remember, 
199 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

than any other gold in all the world; more precious than 
anything else in all the world 

'What, that?” cried Tatkin, sniffing at it. 

"Why, that's all over all of the Buzfuzes," said Betty. 

"Nobody ever gathers it, 'cepting the bees," said 
Billy, frankly unbelieving. 

"That makes no difference," insisted the keeper, 
"that does not change its value." 

"You couldn't get any money for it, though," said 
Billy, "could you?" 

"I don't know what that is," was the extraordinary 
answer, "but if it is worth anything, you probably could 
— only I don't see what would be the use." 

"Money! Why, money is worth everything," said 
Betty, shocked and astonished at such a remark — for 
Betty knew that money could purchase all sorts of com- 
fortable and beautiful things, "nothing can be worth as 
much as money 1" 

"Nothing can be worth as much as these grains of 
golden dust," answered the keeper's voice, in such a 
positive tone that they were very much impressed, even 
though they did not see how his words could be true, 
''nothing! For without them there would come an end 
of all things, and the face of this earth would in short 
space be bare and brown and withered, with no voices 
heard anywhere over all of it — silence and no life, 


200 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

neither of man, nor bird, nor beast, nor any creeping 
thing!” 

Just this strange voice, coming from where they could 
not tell, and saying such words, made them feel almost 
as if some one from the Bible were talking to them. 
And they all three kept very still for a long time after he 
had finished speaking. ‘‘Neither man, nor bird, nor 
beast, nor any creeping thing!” What could he mean? 
What could this precious dust be? How they wanted 
to know — and almost feared to ask. At last however, 
Betty did speak up. 

“I am Afraid we don’t understand you very well, Mr. 
Keeper,” said she, looking into the heart of the flower. 
It seemed as if he must be down there somewhere, even 
though she could not see him. “And of course money 
isn’t just like that — though I guess nobody could live 
very long without it. But birds and animals don’t have 
to have it; at least I never s’posed they did. So I guess 
it’s quite different.” 

“Oh, I know that gold is valuable, everywhere,” an- 
swered the keeper, “and so I know there must be dif- 
ferent kinds of it. Great creatures like the Overlords 
could never handle these grains of precious dust which 
I am here to guard, of course; for one thing, they’re 
too fine— and for another, they’re hardly plentiful 
enough to be gathered by any save the countless Buzfuz 
201 


W onderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

clan and their relations. So I have always been sure 
there were other kinds.’’ 

‘^Money isn’t always gold,” said Billy, who had never 
seen but just one piece that was of the precious metal, 
‘^money’s most always nickel or — or — ^‘Brass ?” sug- 
gested ’Patkin. 

‘^You mean copper,’' corrected Betty, ''that’s what 
pennies are made of, so Mrs. Bell said.” 

"Perhaps I do,” he acknowledged, "Pm not much on 
such things, you know — for of course I don’t use ’em.” 

"But the nicest money is gold,” Billy was trying to 
remember all that he could about it, "and our mother 
had a gold locket, and once she had a five dollar gold 
piece. You remember, Betty?” 

Betty remembered, of course. "But that wasn’t like 
this gold, though,” she said, as she gathered some of it 
up in her hand to examine it, "this is like — oh, it’s like 
darling little gold beads, only they feel as if they were 
made of velvet instead of gold! Velvet or silk — or 
feathers; oh, aren't they soft and lovely?” 

She held out her hand for Billy and ’Patkin to see — 
and Billy looked wonder ingly at them while ’Patkin 
sniffed again and cocked his ears and twisted one for- 
ward and the other back. "Oh, dear,” she sighed wist- 
fully, "I wonder what it is. It does seem as if it were 


202 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

the most wonderful stuff there could be in the world 

All of a sudden Tatkin sneezed; and then he ex- 
claimed, ^ Why, to be sure ! It’s almost exactly like the 
dust that always gets into my nose and makes me sneeze 
so, when I run through the fields where the golden-rod 
is blossoming. My Lady calls it— pol— pollen. Yes, 
pollen; that’s it.” 

‘^Why, I do believe he’s right,” said Betty, studying 
her handful of the golden grains again, ^'that’s what 
gives Mrs. Bell hay fever, she says ; the golden-rod pol- 
len.” 

‘Well, I should think it might,” said ’Patkin, “it’s the 
sneeziest stuff ever I got into. And that’s exactly what 
this is. Take care, or you’ll catch it.” 

“Foolish,” cried Betty, “how could these little beads 
make us sneeze ? There’s nothing peppery about them.” 

Tatkin considered, and cautiously sniffed at them 
once more. “I don’t know that there is,” said he slowly, 
“and of course we can hardly sniff them into our noses 
while we’re this size. But just the smell of them makes 
me sneeze — A-chew !” 

“Please remember that you are not speaking of the 
common golden-rod,” said the keeper’s voice, “these 
grains you know are not shed by it.” 

“Oh,” said they, all three together. Then Betty, as 
203 


W onder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

usual, pursued the matter further. ''How do you 
know,” she asked, "like as not the Princess had some 
golden-rod pollen on her jacket.” 

The keeper laughed softly. "Now, it’s yourself that 
is foolish,” said he, "but of course I suppose your eyes 
see no difference between these and other grains of the 
precious stuff. We know, however — and only the pol- 
len of our own kind can waken the sleepers beneath the 
fountain basin. No other is admitted.” 

"Why not?” asked Billy. 

"Because,” answered the keeper, with such a tone of 
that-settles-it that not one of them asked another ques- 
tion. 

Betty stood running the tiny beads through her fingers 
and watching them, admiring the lovely shape and ex- 
actness of each and the engraving on them for a mo- 
ment; then she said, "I remember once, Billy, that Alec 
scolded about the strawberries and the pollen; don’t 
you ? He said they didn’t bear well, because the pollen 
wasn’t right. I wonder why it wasn’t?” 

"That I can tell you,” said the keeper, "if you care 
to listen.” 

"Care to listen,” exclaimed ’Patkin, "why, man alive 
— I mean Mr. What-ever-you-are alive — we’re simply 
crazy for information. Go on and tell us — talk, talk!” 

The keeper chuckled gently. "Very well,” said 
204 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

he, ‘^then listen — and don’t ask foolish questions/’ 

Tatkin gave the children a look of warning, and they 
looked at each other and at him, and nodded seriously. 

‘In the first place,” began the keeper, “never let any 
one make you believe that pollen isn’t all right, or any- 
thing like that. It’s not the precious golden grains that 
are wrong; but something in wind or weather, or plant- 
ing or care — which latter are the fault of the Overlords, 
if you’ll excuse my mentioning it.” 

“Certainly,” said they. 

“And so, though it is all right, it cannot do its part.” 
He paused a moment, but no one dared say a word. 
Then he said, “But of course you don’t know what its 
part is, do you?” 

“No, sir,” said Tatkin, “we do not.” 

“And you don’t know what it is, do you?” 

“No, sir, we do not.” 

“Well, neither do I know what it is,” was the very 
unexpected and disappointing answer, “but I do know 
what it does — and that’s almost as good. And I know 
where it comes from — ^which is something.” 

“We know where it comes from, too,” said Billy, be- 
fore his sister could stop him, “it comes out of the flow- 
ers. 

“Oh — ^ho — ^ho,” laughed the keeper, not in the least 
offended as she was afraid he would be, “to be sure it 
205 


W onderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

comes out of the flowers. But whereabouts is it when 
it’s in the flowers ? Do you know that ?” 

No one did, of course; and so he told them. ‘^It 
comes out of the pollen boxes,” said he, ‘ Vhere it is made 
and stored; and the pollen boxes are those little things 
that look to you like knots, on the ends of those up- 
standing rods that you probably thought were put before 
the basin to guard it and make it difficult to go close 
up to it. That’s not what they are for, at all, 
though!” 

As he stopped here, and waited, expecting some sort 
of reply it seemed, ’Patkin responded with, ‘That is 
what they look as if they were for.” He had given up 
trying to get close to it indeed, because of them; he 
found them so uncertain to walk over. 

“Yes, I know they do. But the real reason they are 
there is to be walked over I Don’t you see if you come 
to drink at the basin, and walk across them, you’ll shake 
the pollen out of the cases and on to yourself, and get it 
all over you ?” 

“That’s rather unpleasant — to get so dusty,” ventured 
Betty. 

“Princess Dulciana and Princess Dulcinea are always 
dusty,” said ’Patkin, “and so are the others. And they 
don’t seem to mind.” 

“No,” said the keeper, “they’ve always been dusty, I 
206 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

expect. And so they don’t think anything of it ; indeed, 
IVe heard that they hold it an honor to have their velvet 
jerkins studded thickly with these yellow gems — and I 
can understand that this might be so, knowing their 
value as I do.” 

Betty considered them again, wondering if she might 
not adorn herself with some. But her dress was only 
gingham, and to gingham they did not seem to want to 
stick. ‘'I s’pose they’re so valuable,” said she, ‘"that it’s 
only when anybody wears velvet they can use them.” 

“Well,” the keeper resumed, “when you walk over 
these pollen cases set up on the ends of the flexible rods 
that you may call filaments if you will, the pollen gets on 
to your clothes; and then you go into another fountain 
chamber and drink from another basin, and some of it 
will brush off and stay there; and you’ll pick up some 
more there and carry this on to the next — and so on. 
And that is just what we want; that is exactly why it 
is all arranged just as it is.” 

“Oh, why?” gasped Betty, forgetting entirely the in- 
junction laid upon them against asking questions. In- 
stantly she remembered though, and bit her lip. But 
again she was surprised at the keeper’s good nature. 
He did not reproach her, even by his tone, but answered 
at once, “Because the grains are golden keys.” 

Surely this was a mysterious answer, and unless he 
207 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

told them more it was not going to satisfy their curiosity 
very much. *'Oh/’ said Betty again, in a disappointed 
tone, ‘‘golden keys?’’ 

“Yes,” answered the keeper, “pollen grains are the 
precious keys to that secret chamber which must be un- 
locked, else the flower has lived and bloomed in vain. 
For hark ye,” his voice grew suddenly loud and strong 
and majestic, filling the chamber with its resonance; 
“hark ye! It is there that the sleeping Seed of Life 
rests, there that IT lies — waiting, waiting!” 

Never in all their lives had they lived through such a 
breathless moment as this ! Somehow they felt certain 
that the greatest secret in all the world had been con- 
fided to them ; and they were awed and thrilled and in- 
expressibly happy over it, though they did not under- 
stand! Indeed, they were all a-quiver with the excite- 
ment of it, just as the Princess had been when she told 
of her adventure. “Oh,” gasped Betty; and “Oh,” 
gasped Billy; and “Oh,” gasped Tatkin, one after the 
other. There wasn’t anything else to say, really; and 
there wasn’t much sense in saying that, but they had to 
relieve their feelings somehow. 

After a moment however, Billy got his breath back 
sufficiently to whisper as he looked at the many little 
pollen cases standing there before them, “Isn’t there any 
pollen in these, Mr. Keeper ?” 

208 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

''Oh, yes,’’ said the keeper, "but I must have pollen 
from another flower to waken the sleepers that I guard 
here — instead of this.” 

"Why?” asked Betty, as easily as any one always says 
"why” — little dreaming that it was the greatest ques- 
tion in all the world that she was giving voice to ! 

They heard a little sigh before the unseen keeper 
spoke again. "You ask it lightly,” said he, "how shall 
I make you understand ? Oh, little girl, and little boy — 
and great dog! Know you all that all the knowledge 
and all the wisdom of all the wise men and all the sages 
in the world, has never found an answer to that! No 
one knows why or may know. It is better — that is all 1” 

"It’s another secret,” whispered Betty. 

"Ah,” said the keeper, "deep in the heart of creation 
there are many secrets locked away. But this is the 
greatest, verily I believe — the greatest secret 1” 

"And can’t you unlock the chamber where the 
sleepers lie with your own keys?” asked ’Patkin. 

"Yes — we can, each of us. But it is better that we 
should not. They waken to greater things if it is pollen 
from another flower of our kind, that stirs them.” 

"But I don’t see where there is anything like a key 
in the grains,” said Billy, who was looking carefully at 
some that he had picked up, "they’re just little beads.” 

"No,” said the Keeper, "you see nothing like a key. 

209 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

But in every grain there is that which reaches down and 
down, oh, so gently and tenderly, until it touches the 
sleeper that it seeks. And that is all. Then my task 
is done — and the flower’s.’^ 

‘‘And then what do you do?’’ asked Betty, “take a 
vacation?” 

“Yes, my dear,” said he, “I take a long vacation. For 
I have earned it by waiting patiently here in my hiding 
place, to invite the fair daughters of the Apis clan, or 
their kindred of the Sparnopolius or some other family 
— those dainty, wee flies that your kind call, after the 
Princess and her people, bee-flies — to enter, and to urge 
them to drink, knowing that one will bring hither just 
the right pollen to do this amazing thing. And it’s quite 
a task.” He sighed, pensively. 

“And so at last the Princess brought it” he went on 
— “or them,” he corrected himself, “there are many 
seeds you know, from every flower — and not a one will 
stir save it is wakened by a separate grain.” 

“Oh,” said Betty, “then did the Princess Dulcinea 
bring several this morning?” 

“Yes,” answered he, “it was the Princess — and she 
brought many — ^many.” 

“But those — those people that are asleep in there 
haven’t come out yet,” said Billy, watching the floor of 
the basin to see if he could see any signs of its giving 
210 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

way. He had an idea that it must open up with a trap 
door, through which they would rise. 

^‘Oh, no — they won’t come out ; not now. They have 
much to do before they are ready. And when they do 
come out, you’ll never know them — nor dream that they 
have been waked up.” 

‘‘Oh, why,” cried Betty, “can’t we talk to them?” 

“Oh, it’s very complicated,” said the keeper, sighing 
deeply, “I doubt if I could ever make you understand, 
as I said before. They wake up, of course — they’re 
awake now this very minute — ^but they have to grow; 
and then they have to tuck themselves all up tight into a 
snug little cradle so that nothing can hurt them when at 
last they do come out into the rough everyday world. 
And then — ^well, then — ” He stopped as if he did not 
know exactly what happened then; and Betty’s eyes be- 
gan to open bigger and bigger. 

“A cradle,” said she in a breathless kind of way, “did 
you say a cradle, Mr. Keeper, please?” 

“Yes,” he answered, “a sort of cradle, I suppose you’d 
call it ; for it holds the baby, you know,” here he laughed 
a little chuckly laugh, “the child of this plant,” he added, 
by way of explanation. 

“I knew it,” cried Betty, “I just knew it ! It is, it is — 
it’s a SEED that you’re talking about !” 

“To be sure,” said he calmly, “didn’t you know? 


2II 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

Of course it’s a seed — from which another plant 
shall grow, with leaves and flowers and pollen — and 
the Seed of Life sleeping at its heart, waiting once 
more for the magic of the golden touch. And again 
there shall be the awakening, and the growing of more 
seed ; and they shall be planted ; and others shall follow 
them ; and others, rising from their offspring — and thus 
they shall go on, and on, and on! For such is life; so 
the life of the plants goes on always; and the life of the 
creatures that live on them; and the life of the world — 
all because there are pollen grains, more precious than 
all the gold and jewels that were ever mined — even as I 
have said!” 

‘‘And nobody can make the pollen but the flowers,” 
said Betty, half to herself. 

‘‘No one,” said the keeper, “and no one can find a bit 
anywhere but in a flower. So now, what about your 
money?” 

“I guess it isn’t much,” said Billy, “what good would 
it be, if the flowers stopped making pollen? You 
couldn’t buy any, anywhere, no matter if you had a bil- 
lion dollars !” 

The keeper laughed softly; and then silence fell upon 
them, until Betty suddenly felt that they ought to be 
going. 

“Thank you so much,” said she, “we shall never 
212 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Dust 

forget how kind you have been, Mr. Keeper. And may- 
be we can come and see you again to-morrow — I mean, 
and visit you.’’ She remembered that they had not seen 
him, and would not. 

Again he laughed. ‘‘Nay,” said he, “don’t come here 
again. For see! See how already the walls are grow- 
ing dim? And the roof, see how that is fading? And 
the floor beneath your feet, see how that is losing its 
freshness? Don’t come here again; choose another 
fountain, where the sleepers still are sleeping.” 

They looked around as his words suggested ; and sure 
enough, it was as he said. Everywhere there were signs 
of fading. The colors were dimmer, and the glistening 
interior of this loveliest of spots that they had ever seen, 
was not as bright. Already ruin, indeed, was overtak- 
ing all the marvel of its beauty ! 

“Oh, Keeper,” cried Betty, most unhappy at what she 
saw, “what has happened? What has happened?” 

“Haven’t I told you?” answered the Keeper a little 
shortly, “why do you ask me again?” 

“Oh, but why can’t this lovely flower stay lovely?” 

“What for,” he asked, “what on earth for? What do 
you suppose is the reason for a flower, my dear, except 
for the seed? This larkspur has something else to do, 
let me tell you, now — something much more important 
than to make pretty blossoms. The messengers of the 
213 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

air have brought their burdens of what you call the 
dusty pollen, and left them; the magic of them has 
reached where the sleepers lie; the sleepers stir and are 
awake! What is there more, pray?’’ 

‘‘Why, I don’t know,” said Betty, doubtfully, “only I 
thought—” 

“No, you didn’t,” interrupted the keeper, “that’s just 
the trouble. You never stopped to think at all, else you 
would have known that all a flower is for is to make the 
seed. When the seed is made, be very sure there won’t 
be any more bothering to blossom! No indeed !” 

They made their way out of the fast fading blossom 
and got on to Libellula’s back rather sorrowfully, when 
the keeper said nothing more in answer to their com- 
ments and regrets. “I don’t care,” said Betty, “I think 
it’s a shame 1” 

But just then they discovered that ’Patkin’s Lady was 
below in the garden, talking to Angelo; so of course they 
went right down to be near her, and hear what she was 
saying to him. And when they got close, they found 
that she too was talking about the flowers fading. 

“Isn’t it too bad,” she was saying, “they fade so soon? 
But you must pick them all off, Angelo — ^just as soon 
as they look the least bit shabby,” she was snipping off 
the heads of some very dilapidated looking Zinnias as 
she talked, “for if you don’t they will not blossom any 
214 


The Sleeping Legions and the Magic Bust 

more. See? They are really gone to seed, some of 
them. That will never do! No more blossoms, if we 
allow that.’’ 

‘Why they not blossom more?” asked Angelo. 

“Because all they want is to make seeds; if we let 
them, they don’t have to go on trying. If we don’t let 
them, they do.” 

“Oh-ho,” said the gardener, “I see. They want-a 
de own way. When they no hav’a de own way, keep 
try to hav’a him.” 

“That’s it,” laughed the Lady, “that’s it precisely, 
Angelo. They keep trying to have it — and so they go 
on blossoming. Remember though, that we must be 
good to them, and give them a little extra to eat, when 
we make them do our way instead of theirs. So bring 
the bone-meal and dig some in around everything that 
you cut old flowers from, — for bone-meal is what 
makes flowers, you know.” 

Away went Angelo to get the bone-meal; and they 
swung back and forth lazily, in the sunshine. “And I 
always thought flowers came just to make us glad,” said 
Betty, after a bit — rather sadly, perhaps. 

“Oh, no,” laughed Libellula, “nothing is like that in all 
the world. But that’s no reason for not being glad just 
the same, at sight of them.” 

“Indeed, no!” said ’Patkin enthusiastically, “it may 
215 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

be too bad, if you look at it one way; but not if you look 
at it the other.” And then he recited : — 

FLOWERS AND SEEDS 

. ‘‘In field and wilderness and sunny dell, 

In the waste places of the earth, as well 
As in the pleasant gardens men have made. 

Fair flowers, and sweet, the happy future tell. 

“In each is sanctuary, where, concealed. 

Lies that secret which may not be revealed ! 

Beneath the tender heart of every one. 

Resting, it waits there, where it has been sealed. 

“It is the secret verily, of Life, 

That hides in flowers ! — each chalice deep is rife 
With the still wonder and the fragrant hush, 

From the great deeps which are unplagued by strife. 

“And thus a plant may only blossom when 
More Life is come, to enter in again 
And build more seed, and thus to multiply 
That kind ; — oh, never think flowers bloom for men ! 

“Thus the beginning and the end, forsooth. 

Of all the beauty is, in very truth. 

The seed alone, — the queer, dead, tiny grains ! 

For these the plant has lived, — as age for youth !’^ 

''Tatkin, I think you’re wonderful,” said Betty, as he 
stopped. 

''Do you, really,” said ’Patkin, trying to look as un- 
conscious as one usually tries to look when some one says 
that to him — and succeeding about as well. 


216 



A FAR LAND AND THE GOING HENCE 

T ALT! Who goes there?” It was a very 

JL 1 stern voice, and a big loud one, too. 

‘'Only a small company of Zephyrs, sir, traveling for 
pleasure,” came the answer at once. 

"How do I know you are traveling for pleasure,” 
said the stern voice, "how do I know you are telling the 
truth?” 

"Why, see how small and sweet we are! We could 
do no harm if we tried.” 


217 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

— ^huh ! That may all be ; perhaps you could not, 
alone. But how do I know who is with you — who may 
come following after ? And what a lot of you together 
might do?’’ 

Betty had run to look from their cavern and see who 
it was that argued thus in the darkness — or almost dark- 
ness — of the early evening; and now she turned to nod 
her head and whisper, ‘Tt is General Pine-tree — and 
he’s waving his arms around and wagging his head just 
awfully! He’s very angry about something, I think. 
But I can’t see anybody else.” 

'We do not know who may come following after us,” 
said the one who was doing the talking among the 
Zephyrs, as they called themselves, "for the lanes and 
highways of the air are free, and who wishes may travel 
there. But our associates are of the gentlest, we do 
affirm upon our honor ; and the land of our birth is a land 
of warmth and friendship.” 

"Oh — ho — ho,” said the gruff old General, "oh — ^ho — 
ho, ha — ha!” and he bent this way and that as he 
laughed, "of course it is! — and of course I know it, 
gentle little friends. Otherwise I’d have pulled and torn 
you all to shreds and pieces a dozen seconds ago !” 

Betty saw by the movement of a tall poplar near 
General Pine-tree that the Zephyrs must all have shrunk 
back in alarm at that, and taken refuge perhaps in its 
218 


A Far Land and the Going Hence 

top. The General went on after a moment however, in 
a voice that reassured them. 

‘'But you may all come ahead if you like, without be- 
ing afraid — gently — gently though ! — and not too fast ! 
Not all together either, but by ones and twos, and now 
and then threes, if you are very discreet about it.’’ He 
beckoned to one evidently and then to another, showing 
them the way he wished them to take. "Here — this way 
for you; and that way for you — and you — over there! — 
and you go through up there. Thafs the way! You 
see, I just had to have a little fun with you, great travel- 
ers that you are. As if I didn’t know you right away ! 
There you are now — skeedaddle !” 

Which was a little ruffling to their dignity, no doubt ; 
but Betty heard one saying as they swept past and away, 
"Whew ! He could have torn us to shreds, just as he 
said — if he had wanted to.” And she ran and climbed 
back into their cradle and cuddled down into the warmth 
of the dandelion down, glad that the great and good 
General stood over them, on guard against the invasion 
of rougher, ruder winds than these Zephyrs that he had 
challenged so fiercely. 

But even with General Pine-tree standing guard over 
them, what was to become of them when winter really 
arrived? The thought of it kept her from going to 
sleep, and made her quite sick at heart; for how was 
219 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

she to get warm clothes for Billy? And where were 
they to get anything to eat? The winds would blow 
cold, and the snow would come; nowhere would there 
be a seed or a berry or anything! 

All the water would be locked up in ice, and the nectar 
would be frozen in the flower chalices and — oh, dear! 
What were they going to do ? What was to become of 
them? Had they escaped all the monsters and dragons, 
only to come to their end miserably, starving and freez- 
ing? Was there no way that this strange visit could be 
brought to an end? No way they could find back to 
that part of the world where they belonged, and where 
they were the size of other little boys and girls ? 

She thought about it, and prayed about it, and began 
to cry — softly to herself, be sure, so that she would not 
waken Billy and Tatkin; but no answer came. There 
did not seem to be any chance of their getting back — 
for they had not the very faintest idea of how they 
came ! 

At last she fell asleep, however, and slept till morning 
came and the friendly Sunbeam peeped over the cradle’s 
side to waken them. 

‘There’s lots doing to-day,” said he, “better get out 
and do your share.” 

“We’ll be there in just a minute,” cried all three; and 


220 


A Far Land and the Going Hence 

they hurried so fast that they did not know how cold it 
had been, and were soon outside where the warm sun- 
light was already making it comfortable for every one. 
But there did not seem much for them to do, when they 
got there : every one was getting on nicely, and indeed, 
no one took any notice of them. Even Libellula was 
nowhere in sight; so of course they had to stay right 
near their own door-step. But as their cavern was 
above the path, in the side of a rocky ledge which Tat- 
kin said was called the Rockery, they could look down 
and over a good bit of the garden — and see something 
of what was going on, even if they could not wander 
about. 

‘Ta-ta-ra, ta-ta-ra,’’ blared a trumpet’s silvery tones 
from somewhere close by; and ‘^All aboard — hurry up! 
— all aboard for the Isle of Between!” cried a Herald, 
clad in scarlet and gold, who went skipping and dancing 
along, ‘'ta-ta-ra, ta-ta-ra, ta-ta-ra!” 

‘'My goodness,” cried a tall young Veronica who lived 
across the path, “Em not half ready! When does it 
start?” 

“When the evening star has set,” some one answered 
just below where they stood; and right there was an- 
other Herald, without a trumpet — a Herald dressed in a 
velvety-purple tunic — bowing before Columbine. In- 
deed they were everywhere, they soon saw, rushing this 
22V 


Wonderdays and Wonderway $ Through Flowerland 

way and that among the garden folks, urging the need 
of haste, and taking charge and directing. 

‘^Your very life depends upon it,’' cried another, paus- 
ing an instant to jump up and down in a perfect fever 
of anxiety, ''it does indeed!” 

"It may not seem so to you now,” still another said as 
he raced by, "but General Pine-tree and his troops only 
succeeded in turning the invaders back last night after 
hours of the most savage fighting! And of course 
they’ll return with reenforcements just as soon as they 
can muster them.” 

"Indeed I heard them,” said one of the large Marigold 
family who lived further down, "and do you think you 
need to tell me to hurry ? Am I not still sick with the 
terror that all helpless things who can neither flee nor de- 
fend themselves must feel ? Shivering horrors ! How 
they raged and they threatened, those two — terrible 
North Wind and his skulking ally. Jack Frost.” 

"Yes — and how General Pine-tree and all his troops 
reeled and bent and twisted in the effort to toss them 
back with their giant out-spread arms,” said Colum- 
bine, "and how they hurled themselves forward against 
them again and again, seeking the lives of us who dwell 
here.” 

"Oh, oh! Yes, yes,” cried Veronica, "I know it is as 
you say! And such memories make even the maddest 
222 


A Far Land and the Going Hence 

haste seem slow! But Tm not half ready! — oh, what 
shall I do ? — Vm not half ready yet!'’ 

‘Well, don’t talk about it,” cried Betty, “but get 
ready!” Which surprised Veronica so much that she 
hurried up and did so. 

“Where are they going?” asked Billy, watching the 
hurry and bustle of the Heralds and forgetting, he was 
so interested, that he had had no breakfast, “where do 
you suppose they’re going, Betty?” 

“I don’t know,” said Betty, looking very sober. The 
feeling that they were to be left all alone here, without 
even the flowers’ companionship, almost overcame her 
courage. Where was Libellula? And the Princess 
Dulcinea? Or the lady Aea? Where was good and 
kind, though ugly Mr. Gryllus ? Had every one forgot- 
ten them ? 

“They’re going on the ships that no one can see,” said 
a Herald that they had not noticed before, answering 
Billy’s question, “that sail on seas no one may know — 
out and away to the lovely, stilly Isle of Between.” 

“The Isle of Between,” said Betty, brought out of her 
doleful thoughts by this challenge to her geography, 
which was her favorite study, “I never heard of that 
before. Where is it, if you please, Mr. Herald?” 

The Herald, who was dressed in green and bronze, 
laughed a little short laugh, and then answered, “The 
223 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

Isle of Between is bounded on the near side by this sum- 
mer, and on the far side by next summer — and it lies 
just off the coast of the famous Land of Nod. This 
of course you must have heard of many a time.’’ 

‘"Oh, it’s not a real island, then,” she exclaimed, never 
thinking that there was anything wrong in saying so. 
And so she was very much surprised when the green- 
and-bronze-clad Herald turned on her angrily. 

‘What do you mean,” he demanded, “by that, pray? 
Not a real island? Why, Lm surprised at you! Why 
should you presume to make such a statement? What 
do you know about it?” 

“Why — why — ” said Betty very much taken aback, 
“I’m sure, Mr. Herald, I never thought — I didn’t mean 
to make you angry. I — I never learned of it in g’og- 
raphy, that’s all. And the Land of Nod isn’t — isn’t — ” 

“Isn’t what?” said he coming right up to her and 
looking at her very fiercely. 

“Why, it just is not” said she, though with some mis- 
givings, you may be sure, in the face of his angry mien. 

“That’s about what might be expected,” he spoke in 
the most disgusted tone she had ever heard, “just about 1 
What good is this that you call g’ography, I’d like to 
know, if it’s only taught you that something is notf” 

“But g’ography didn’t teach me that it was not,” said 
Betty, anxious to defend her beloved maps and the great 
224 


A Far Land and the Going Hence 

globe representing the earth, which had been her father’s 
— long, long ago ! — the globe on which she used to mark 
out with her stubby little finger, under mother’s guid- 
ance, the voyages that he was making — until the time 
when mother cried and said he had made one which they 
could not trace. 

As she spoke she suddenly remembered this. Father 
had gone to a land that was not on that globe — nor on 
any of the maps in the books — sailing over a sea that no 
one could know, on a ship that no one could see. Per- 
haps she was wrong about the Land of Nod; perhaps 
it lay somewhere in the same direction, and perhaps 
the geography did not have everything in it, after all. 

‘The g’ography didn’t teach me that it isn’t,” she be- 
gan again, “but I thought it wasn’t, because I could not 
find it there. Maybe I didn’t look in the right place, 
though — maybe it’s somewhere else.” 

“Well, that’s more like it,” said the Herald, looking a 
little less angry and fierce, “just you get over the idea 
that you can put your finger on everything, young lady. 
There’s many a place and many a thing that you’ll never 
know anything at all about, if you stick to that notion.” 

“Are all the flowers going to-day?” she asked, with a 
view to changing the subject as much as anything — 
though she did want to know. 

“Oh, no,” said he, “not all of them. Only the weakest 
225 


Wonderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

and tenderest start so soon. And some don’t go for a 
long time — especially since they brought General Pine- 
tree and his troops here to stand guard. It’s quite safe 
here until very late, thanks to them.” 

‘We heard him stopping a company of Zephyrs, last 
night,” said Tatkin. 

“Yes, so did I,” said the Herald, “you see you never 
can tell whether a Zephyr is a North Wind outrider or 
not; that’s the trouble. So he holds ’em all up — and 
gives ’em a scare too, as often as not.” 

“Can’t North Wind hurt the General though — and 
make him let him come in?” asked Billy. 

“No indeed ! North Wind never gets past him, — for 
the harder he tries, the more the old General tears him 
to bits. And if he tries to sneak in close to the ground, 
there’s the regiment of Spruce to catch and rend him. 
He’s got no chance here at all.” 

“Then I don’t see why the flowers must go away — to 
the Isle of Between,” said Betty. 

“Oh, they have to go just the same. For though he 
can keep out North Wind well enough, even General 
Pine-tree and all his Spruce army can’t keep Jack Frost 
away. He steals in, you see, and doesn’t hurl himself 
along; and so he gets by everything — everything except 
the cold frames.” 


226 


A Far Land and the Going Hence 

‘‘Oh, that’s where they put the lettuce,” said Betty, 
remembering about it suddenly. 

“Lettuce, and a lot of things beside,” said the Herald, 
“but I mustn’t stay here chattering any longer. I’ve 
got work to do. Good-by.” 

He skipped away so quickly they hardly had a chance 
to say “good-by” in turn; and right there where he had 
been, or just beyond where he had been, stood Mr. Gryl- 
lus. 

“Oh, here’s Mr. Gryllus,” cried all three, running to- 
ward him, “good-morning, dear Mr. Gryllus. Are you 
going away too ?” 

“Not just now, not just now,” answered he, “it’s nice 
and warm and dry under these leaves — and the sun 
shines down into the garden; and Pine-tree and his 
Spruce soldiers make it a pretty safe and comfortable 
place, well into the winter — well into the winter.” 

“That’s what that Herald has been telling us,” said 
Tatkin, “but of course it won’t do for these children, 
even so.” 

“Oh, well,” Mr. Gryllus whirled about in his sudden 
way, “winter is a long way off yet. Don’t bother about 
that now.” 

“What do you suppose is keeping Libellula?” said 
Betty looking up into the air in the direction he usually 
227 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

came, always here earlier than this. And we 

haven’t had any breakfast. Surely he hasn’t forgotten 
us!” 

‘'Better not wait breakfast for him, though,” said Mr. 
Gryllus, “here’s a little pile of grass seeds where the 
gardener spilled some yesterday. Can’t you get some- 
thing out of them ?” 

They were not very inviting; but as they grew more 
and more hungry every minute, ’Patkin suggested that 
they nibble at them until Libellula did appear. And so 
they set to work, and nibbled for such a long time that 
they finally had eaten as much as they wanted for break- 
fast — and still no Libellula. But the lady Aea came in 
sight, flying rather low and not as swiftly as usual; and 
she settled down with a sigh, and said “Good morn- 
ing.” Then, after a glance around, “Are you alone 
yet?” she asked. 

“Alone except for Mr. Gryllus,” said Betty. 

“So? Mm — huh, well — ” she sighed again, and went 
to one of the nectar bearing clovers, and lighted on it to 
bring it down for them to drink, “well, it’s not to be won- 
dered at. Come, get at this flower, for I haven’t much 
time — nor much energy this morning, either. And 
there’s a lot to be done.” 

“Does your head ache?” asked Betty sympathetically. 

“No, my head doesn’t ache — whatever that means,” 
228 


A Far Land and the Going Hence 

said Aea, ‘^but I am heavy — heavy in my wings ! And 
stupid! I — I want to sleep/’ 

She seemed almost to fall asleep while Betty was get- 
ting the chalices of the flower open and their contents 
out for herself and Billy and Tatkin. And when she 
said, ‘‘There, that will be enough for this morning, thank 
you, lady Aea,” she jumped as if she were in drowse — 
which surprised them very much, naturally, when you 
remember what a lively and busy creature they had al- 
ways seen her. 

“I guess you need a vacation,” suggested Tatkin who 
knew some of the signs of overwork. 

“Oh, no,” said she, “it’s the weather, I guess. No one 
feels up to the mark in such weather.” 

Yet it was a beautiful day, and Betty and Billy and 
Tatkin all felt very well indeed — or would have felt well 
if it had not been for the dread of their future that 
haunted them. But that grew less as the sun rose 
higher ; for it was almost as warm as any day of sum- 
mer had been, and it is always hard to remember about 
winter you know, when summer is here. 

She flew away with a good deal of buzzing, and with- 
out saying anything more. And not until she was be- 
yond call did they remember that she had not told them 
anything about Libellula — ^^which they had hoped she 
would. 


229 


Wonder days and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

'Til stay around a while/' said Mr. Gryllus, ‘"and take 
you for a walk a little way, if you want to go — until he 
comes any way. I can look out for you pretty well. 
Come on if you want to. You'll be all right." 

So for a walk they went, down the path to where 
'Patkin's Lady was working with Angelo and telling him 
what to do and why, as she so often did. And this time 
they were getting the garden ready for winter, it seemed 
— taking up some of the bulbs, and cutting off the tops 
of all the flowers that had turned brown and dry — 
“thrown away their old clothes," Angelo called it in his 
funny speech, whereat the Lady laughed. “Yes — and 
so we put them in the rag bag," she had answered; and 
they saw Angelo wheel a barrow load of these tops away 
down to a heap of dead leaves and grass cuttings and 
garden rubbish of all sorts, and dump them there. 

And he raked up leaves — hundreds and hundreds of 
them — and they saw among them many of the Heralds 
who had been hurrying the flowers all the morning, and 
urging them to embark — oak leaves and maple leaves 
and beech leaves and leaves of the dogwood and ever so 
many others. “Blankets," said the big Hollyhock who 
stood up strong and fearless yet, above all the other 
plants in the garden, “winter blankets, you know." 

“What ! The little Heralds are ?" said Betty in aston- 
ishment. 


230 


A Far Land and the Going Hence 

‘‘Yes/^ said Hollyhock, ‘'their work as Heralds is 
done when all the flowers are warned and hurried away ; 
and then they fall asleep themselves, and are made into 
winter blankets/^ 

“For the flowers’ beds?” asked Billy shyly. 

“Exactly,” it was Mr. Gryllus who answered, “for the 
flowers’ beds — and for us to burrow under, when the 
time comes.” 

“Only we don’t want blankets on to keep us warm,” 
said the Hollyhock, “we want our blankets on to keep 
us cold.” 

“You do? Why, how very strange,” said Betty. 

“No doubt, to you; but your way seems strange to us 
— for you see, if we were kept warm, we’d all the time 
be dreaming it was time to wake up — and we wouldn’t 
rest at all. Indeed, it’s more than likely we would wake 
up, and make our way up into the outdoors — and get our 
noses frozen right off for our foolishness !” 

“Oh, I see,” said Betty, though she did not see at all, 
and could not think for the life of her, what made them 
turn things around so. 

“But if Jack Frost comes along and creeps in and 
locks our doors tight, thinking he’s going to catch us 
maybe while we sleep, and then our blankets are put on, 
there he has to stay, the rascal! And then we sleep, 
snug and secure. It’s his going in and out that hurts us, 
231 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

you see; but he can’t get up through our blanket once 
he’s been caught under it. That’s where we fool him !” 

‘Then you don’t want your blankets till Jack Frost 
has arrived, I take it,” said ’Patkin. 

“No indeed. Let him get in and get in deep; and then 
fasten him in — that’s our method — for then we are all 
safe and sound for the winter. But let him get in and 
then go out, and he’ll take some of us along with him, 
sure as anything! And the ones he doesn’t take along 
with him, he’ll worry and disturb until their rest will be 
spoiled — and then they are as good as nothing at all when 
spring finally comes in earnest. You know it’s his great 
trick to masquerade as Spring; to try to fool us into 
thinking she is here. Oh, you have to watch him ! He’s 
a clever villain, with his fickle ways and his pretend- 
ings.” 

“And some of us, you know,” said a Tea Rose in such 
a sweet and gentle voice that it was like music, “were 
never meant to dwell where he can come at all. So we 
are in great need of guarding.” 

“Yes — you, for instance. You have to be covered 
from him altogether, don’t you?” said Hollyhock, “can’t 
wait for him to nip at you even, before you have your 
blankets.” 

“No,” said she, “we and all who are as sensitive as 
we, must be covered so that he can never come near us. 

232 


A Far Land and the Going Hence 

So we are like you are, little boy and little girl, you see; 
blankets over ^is are to keep us warm and snug/' 

‘'See the difference?" asked Mr. Gryllus, eyeing them 
sharply. 

“I — I think I do," said Betty, a little uncertainly. 

“I think you don't,'' he retorted, in his blunt way, 
“but see ! It's like this : — if they're hardy old chaps like 
Hollyhock here, they want to freeze under and stay 
frozen under all winter. But if they're tender and frail 
like Tea Rose, they don't want to be frozen at all! Is 
that right?" 

“Yes," said Tea Rose and Hollyhock nodding to them, 
and then to each other, “that's exactly right, Mr. Gryllus. 
You have stated it most concisely." And then they sang 
a duet. 

WINTER PROTECTION 

Tea Rose: — 

“Ah me, ah woe ! Alas that it’s so, 

But it’s true there is nothing can save 
My life, if Jack Frost 
Comes near me! — I’m lost! 

So cover me deep 
E’er I fall asleep. 

And leave no cranny through which he may creep !” 
Hollyhock ; — 

“Oh dear! How queer it seems, that some fear 
The frolicsome, rollicksome rascal; 

Different by nature 


233 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

From this frail creature, 

It suits me the best 
To have my earth-nest 

Locked fast by the rogue when I take my rest.” 

Both together; — 

“So spread my bed just as I have said, 

We’re not to be treated alike; 

What’s suited to me, 

Might possibly be 
The worst thing to do 
For all but a few 

Of the plants that depend for care, upon you.” 

Tea Rose; — 

“Just mind the kind, and you will soon find. 

You’ll not do the wrong thing by any, 

Be sure you cover. 

Tender things over. 

Before it freezes, — 

Before Jack Frost seizes 

Earth in his grip, and squeezes and squeezes!” 

Hollyhock ; — 

“But let him get his icy seal set. 

On the land, and the lesser waters. 

Before you begin 
My kind to tuck in, — 

Then quick! — make him fast. 

And while winter shall last 

Don’t give him a chance to creep up and get past I” 

Both Together; — 

“For he, you see, — sly though he may be, — 

Can’t go up or down through a blanket; 

He must abide. 


234 


A Far Land and the Going Hence 

On whichever side, 

He is when you spread 
It over my head ; — 

Do just as I say, and I’ll have nought to dread!” 

It grew warmer and warmer as the day wore on; and 
though Libellula did not appear, the children and Tat- 
kin found the time passing pleasantly enough, for Mr. 
Gryllus was good company. Just before noon a pair of 
Formicas came hurrying along — a pair who stopped 
when he hailed them, and listened and chatted, showing 
no signs of the short temper that the children supposed 
all their clan possessed. Indeed, they were quite 
affable. 

^'On the warpath Gryllus had asked them, chuckling. 

‘‘Mercy, noT’ said the one on the nigh side, “we’re 
hunting eggs.” 

“Indeed,” said Gryllus, “I’ve noticed you’re fond of 
them. Do you expect to get ’em hard boiled or scram- 
bled to-day?” 

“Oh, neither,” explained the one on the far side, “it’s 
not that kind of egg we are hunting. We want eggs 
for hatching.” 

“Hatching?” said he, his tone a question. 

“Hatching new herds, you know,” said the near one, 
“most of our finest have been destroyed. It’s dread- 
ful — we have so few left. We simply must have eggs, 
and a lot of them, to start new with.” 

235 


W onderdays and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

It seemed very queer, indeed, to hear any one speak 
of hatching ‘'herds’’ ! But Betty and Billy tried not to 
laugh, thinking it likely they did not know that one said 
“flocks” when speaking of chickens. What such tiny 
creatures as these Formicas were going to do with 
chickens though, if they found ever so many eggs and 
succeeded in hatching them, made Betty wonder. 

“What was the matter?” she asked, “did they get 
chicken-pox?” 

“Oh, no,” answered the far one — Skelter, they learned 
her name was, afterwards, “they were overcome by a 
deluge, as often happens to them, unfortunately.” 

“That was too bad. Couldn’t you keep them where it 
would be safer ?” 

“Not very well. You see there are a great many; 
and we have to pasture them where the juices are good.” 

Well she certainly was getting things mixed up! 
“Pasture” and “juices” I Betty looked as puzzled as she 
was ; and Mr. Gryllus came to the rescue. 

“I guess you’ve never seen any of the Formicas’ 
herds,” said he, “nor any of their pastures. Would you 
like to?” 

Indeed they would, and they said so, eagerly. And 
then Miss Helter, Shelter’s sister, rose to the occasion 
and said, “Why, come right along now, and we’ll take 
you to one that’s right near here.” 

236 


A Far Land and the Going Hence 

Betty looked at Mr. Gryllus to see if he approved of 
their going. And he said, ‘"Go ahead ! I’ll wait around 
here for you.” So go ahead they did. 

They had to walk very fast to keep up, though both 
Helter and Skelter tried to walk very slowly. And it 
was a long way after all, for just their two legs — and 
four — to travel; so when they came to the trunk of some- 
thing that grew very high — much higher than the 
grasses and higher than many of the flowers — they were 
pretty tired. Helter started straight up it, but Betty 
cried out in dismay. 

''Oh,” said she, "wherever are you going? You said 
you’d show us the pasture.” 

"Well, that’s where I’m going,” answered Helter, 
"what’s the matter?” 

"But we can’t,” said Betty, "don’t you see? We can’t 
walk up straight like that. We can’t stick on !” 

"We’ll have to go around by this other lane,” said 
Skelter, "this isn’t so steep. My sister forgot I guess 
that you’re not made on the same plan that we are.” 

With that she turned off and started another way, 
which was as she said, not so steep. But even so it was 
a pretty stiff climb; and as it was only a branch of a 
bush of some kind that they were walking on, it was a 
narrow path that they had to follow, else they would 
slip over one side or the other and take a terrible tumble. 

237 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

'1 wish we hadn’t come,” growled Tatkin from be- 
hind, as he saw how hard it was for Billy, and how hard 
it was for Betty to help him, wish we hadn’t got into 
this ! I don’t like it.” 

He wished it harder than he ever had wished anything 
in all his life, before they got out of it, you may be sure; 
and so did Billy and Betty. For a terrible experience 
was ahead of them. But afterwards — well, in due time 
you will find out about afterwards. 


238 



THROUGH THE RAINBOW 

T he long climb came to an end at last, as every- 
thing is bound to do; but oh, dear! What they 
found there! Helter ran way on ahead, excitedly; for 
something she saw evidently upset her. And Skelter 
waved her horns nervously, and wanted to hurry, but 
was too good natured or polite or something to do so, 
when that would have meant leaving them quite alone. 
She kept raising up and looking ahead, however; and 
once in a while she would run on a few steps in spite of 
herself, it seemed, to peer after her sister. 

‘'Dear me,” she said at last, “it does seem as if there 
were no end to the trouble and annoyance we are having 
this year. If it keeps on much longer, we shall just 
have to move — ^migrate, and stake a claim somewhere 

239 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

away off as far from here as we can get. We simply 
can’t stand it to be so pestered !” 

‘‘Has it been worse than usual this summer?” asked 
Betty, sympathetically. 

“Oh, yes. Much worse. Indeed, we’ve hardly had 
a day without something happening. If it hasn’t been 
the herds, it’s been the children; and if it hasn’t been 
the children, it’s been raiders ; and if it hasn’t been raid- 
ers, it’s been a flood; and if it hasn’t been a flood, it’s 
been — well, it’s been something else just as bad. I can’t 
begin to tell all that it’s been, in one sitting.” 

“How dreadful,” said Betty, without in the least 
knowing what she was talking about. 

“And now there is something wrong with this pas- 
ture, as sure as my name is Skelter! Helter’s right! 
Oh, dear — whatever are we to dof' 

It was an angry cry rather than a sorrowful one, how- 
ever — and somehow Betty did not feel as sympathetic 
as she thought she ought to; and ’Batkin’s hair ruffled 
up all along his neck, as he looked sharply at their escort. 
By this time they had almost reached the end of the way ; 
and ahead they could make out several forms, crowded 
together — large and small, they seemed to be — over 
which and among which Helter was running this way 
and that, stopping now and then to touch one or another 
with a paw, or with one of her flexible horns. Some- 
240 


Through the Rainbow 

times, indeed, she seemed to stroke them and pet them, 
just as the children stroked and petted Tatkin when- 
ever he came close to them. Betty thought that was 
rather nice, whatever the things were ; she could under- 
stand perfectly that they might be pets and that Helter 
and Skelter might love them very much, indeed, if they 
were. 

And then when she remembered how angry and sor- 
rowful she would feel if anything threatened Tatkin, 
she grew a little more sympathetic. After all, it was 
not to her that Skelter had spoken so sharply. And the 
anger in her tone was not for them; it was, perhaps, very 
righteous anger, directed against something that men- 
aced their pets — and so it was too bad of herself, Betty 
felt, not to be sorry. 

She had got this far in reasoning with herself, when 
Helter came running back to them. ^'Do you know,’^ 
she cried, paying no attention to them but addressing 
her sister, ''do you know I believe there is another one 
of those storms coming? I can feel it in the air. What 
shall we do 

Skelter looked at her a moment in silence; then sud- 
denly she turned to them as they stood watching her. 
"It^s some of your clan’s doing,” she snapped, quite tak- 
ing their breath away. 

"Oh,” cried Betty, "Miss Skelter, please don’t be an- 
241 


W onderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

noyed at us. Why, weVe been right here with you all 
the time — and we never can help it if it storms. Truly, 
you are mistaken. What could we have to do with 
it?’’ 

Skelter did not say any more, but she snapped her 
queer looking pincers together in the way of her kind, 
and glared at them for an instant before she turned 
away, and ran ahead to where the creatures stood, all 
closely packed together. And Helter ran after her; 
so Betty and Billy and ’Patkin had a chance to look 
about, and to have a word together, privately. 

‘Watch out carefully,” said ’Patkin, the instant they 
were alone, ‘T tell you, there’s trouble afloat. We 
ought never to have come on this trip; but now we’re 
here, we’ve got to face whatever happens. So be pre- 
pared. Don’t let them catch us oif guard for an in- 
stant! I tell you, you can’t trust these things a bit in 
the world.” 

“Oh, ’Patkin, don’t you think maybe you’re too sus- 
picious,” said Betty, looking after them and seeing how 
anxiously they ran about their pets and seemed to be try- 
ing eagerly to move them from the positions they oc- 
cupied, “see how much they think of their — their — cows, 
I guess they are. Cows and little calves, or what they 
think are cows and calves. I’m sure I can’t imagine 
what the things are. Can you?” 

242 


Through the Rainbow 

‘‘Do you ’member those queer things that sang a 
funny song the other day, when we rode over to the pear 
tree?” asked Billy, suddenly. He had been looking up 
at the herds long and thoughtfully. 

“Why yes, of course I do,” answered his sister. 
“Why?” 

“I think these — cows — are something like them,” said 
Billy. 

Tatkin looked at him in surprise; then sniffed the 
air up in the direction of the end of the road whereon 
they stood — or the end of the branch, I suppose I ought 
to say. “They certainly — do — have something of the 
— aroma,” said he at last, between sniffs, “but I can 
hardly believe — ” 

“Let’s go up a little farther, and see,” said Betty, “oh, 
do you suppose anybody would do anything so dreadful 
as keep those wicked things for pets?” 

“As far as the dreadful part of it goes,” said ’Patkin, 
“I think these Formicas would do anything. But I’m 
not sure yet that these things are those things — though 
they are something like ’em. We can go a little closer, 
if you want to. But do be careful.” 

Helter and Skelter were paying no attention to them 
whatsoever, now ; but they were glad of this rather than 
otherwise. It gave them a better chance to satisfy their 
curiosity. 


243 


W onderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

''Do you know where we are?’’ asked Betty, as they 
moved forward very slowly and carefully, "I think it’s 
almost the tip-top branch of some kind of bush, don’t 
you ?” 

"Looks like that,” agreed ’Patkin, keeping close 
against Billy. 

"We’re awfully high up, anyway,” said Billy, peek- 
ing over the edge of the branch and then drawing back 
quickly, when he saw, through an opening in the leaves 
below, how far from the ground they really were. For- 
tunately they were not able to realize this all of the time, 
for the branches beneath them were so numerous and 
the leaves so thick that it did not really seem high at all, 
unless they saw through. That one glimpse was rather 
terrifying, though. 

Suddenly they came to a different kind of wood, under 
their feet ; indeed, it was not wood at all that they were 
standing on, but green stem, soft and tender — as stem 
always is at the tip of the branch. And then they saw 
that it was only on the green and tender growth that 
these herds of the Formicas were huddled together. 
This evidently was the "pasture.” 

"Billy, you’re right,” whispered Betty, looking ahead 
as they moved on slowly, "they are — that’s just what 
they are — those horrible, heartless, wicked things that 
we saw that day! Oh, I wish we’d never come here! 

244 


Through the Rainbow 

I wish we’d never seen those old ants! The mean, 
dreadful creatures, to make pets of these — ” 

‘What’s that?” said a sharp voice from behind them, 
“what’s that you’re talking about? Who’s mean? 
Who’s dreadful? Who’s an old ant?” 

The way had grown very narrow as they approached 
the top ; and whoever it was behind, they were quite sure 
they would not be able to pass them. They all turned 
their heads, cautiously; and there, right upon their heels 
— right upon ’Patkin’s heels, to be very accurate, was 
another one of the Formicas, larger and not nearly as 
good natured looking as Helter or Skelter. 

’Patkin did not wait for any one else to answer her. 
“We’re talking about your tribe,” said he, bristling, 
^'thafs who we are talking about! And what are you 
going to do about it?” 

“Oh,” exclaimed Betty, “you ought to be ashamed of 
yourselves! To think of your keeping those wicked 
thieves and lawless things for your pets! I think it’s 
dreadful. I never would have believed it !” 

The newcomer looked at them all three for a minute, 
as if she thought they had taken leave of their senses; 
then she just stood back and laughed and laughed and 
laughed. “My, my, but you are a funny lot,” said she, 
quite out of breath, “and don’t you give yourselves airs? 
My, my.'” 


245 


Wonder days and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

‘Well, just the same, we thought you were respectable 
nice people,’’ said Billy, “or we wouldn’t have come up 
to see your old pasture. And it is wicked to be friends 
with thieves, I don’t care who they are or where they 
live! And we aren’t going to have anything more to 
do with you — Betty nor ’Patkin nor me.” 

She laughed again ; then she suddenly stopped laugh- 
ing, and glared at him — and at ’Patkin and Betty. 
“Take care,” said she, “take care how you talk to me! 
Who are you, I should like to know, to come here and 
be so saucy? Don’t you know that I could twist your 
heads off in just half a minute?” And with this she 
rose up, as they had seen her kind do so many times, 
and snapped her frightful pincer arms at them. 

Betty screamed, and drew Billy closer and gripped 
’Patkin’s collar with a fiercer grip ; but the space was so 
narrow that they could not go on : neither could they go 
back down with her blocking the way and brandishing 
and threatening them so close. And she could not go 
past them. So there they remained, facing each other. 
And there Helter found them, when she came running 
down to see what was going on. 

“What’s the matter?” she called out, “why are you 
screaming?” 

“Good reason why,” snapped the angry newcomer, 
“wherever did these creatures come from, I’d like to 
246 


Through the Rainbow 

know? If they aren't the worst group of worthless 
trash that I ever saw, I'll give up ! Do you know any- 
thing about them ?" 

‘Well, we know a little," said Helter, looking at them 
in a not over friendly fashion, “just a little. They 
wanted to come to the pasture with Skelter and me, so 
we thought there'd be no harm in letting them. They 
don't amount to anything, of course." 

“Well, maybe we don't," said Betty, forgetting the 
necessity for being discreet in her anger and outraged 
feelings, “but that's only because we're so small. If 
we were our own natural size, I guess you'd think twice 
before you talked that way to us." 

“Oh, but you are not your own natural size," said 
Helter, coming closer and looking her right in the eye, 
“so what are you going to do, my haughty little miss? 
Don't you think you’re rather rash, to count on size, 
when size is what you have not got ?" 

“I'm not counting on size," said Betty, “I'm only tell- 
ing you that I think you're taking advantage of us be- 
cause we haven't our usual size. And I do think you 
are — nothing is going to make me say any different." 

“It's really a very silly argument," it was Skelter 
speaking, over her sister's shoulder, “and you'll never 
finish it. So drop it — and let us see if we can't get 
something done toward saving this remnant of a herd, 
247 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

if such a storm is coming as you said a moment ago you 
felt in the air. If we hustled maybe we could get 
enough on to the roots to make a beginning down there. 
.They aren’t as likely to look there for them, you know.” 

‘T doubt it,” said Helter, ^‘but, of course, if you want 
to try. I’m ready to help. Run down, Skurry, and bring 
along a lot of the crowd, and let’s see what we can do. 
And you three — ” she turned back again to the children 
and ’Patkin — ‘^you three get out of the way, if you 
don’t want to get into trouble. We’ve had about 
enough of you; and if you don’t want to get dropped 
off, get off ! Understand ?” 

‘'But you asked us to come,” began Betty, “and you 
know my brother is lame and can’t hurry; and it’s hard 
for us to walk here anyway. And why did you pretend 
to be friendly, if you weren’t? Why did you ask us to 
come with you, and then turn around and act like this?” 

“Why did you come with us, and then turn around 
and criticize our friends and our manners ?” 

“Well, perhaps I ought not to have done that,” ad- 
mitted Betty, “but it is wicked, what you are doing; 
and when anything’s wicked, if one is told of it, some- 
times they will stop doing it. We would like you and 
like to be friends with you, if you would not have these 
horrible robbers for — for cows.” 

“Well, let me tell you, young lady,” Helter rose up 
248 


Through the Rainbow 

and snapped her pincer arms right in her face, ^let me 
tell you this! We don’t care whether you are friendly 
or not, or whether you like us or not! But you are to 
mind your own affairs ; and keep a civil tongue in your 
heads. And you are to get out of this pasture, and out 
of our way! And then we can forget all about you — 
and that’s what we want most of all to do. Bah ! Clear 
out, all of you; and be quick about it.” 

She turned and ran back up the branch toward the 
tip, where the herds of Aphids were sitting and drink- 
ing in the plant’s juices as fast as they could and as hard, 
and puffing themselves up like small balloons, as they 
did so. And with Skelter, she went about among them 
again, stroking one here and another there, and some- 
times lapping up a tiny drop of honey dew that one 
would offer her — or seem to offer her. Betty and Billy 
watched them, from the distance that they were, with 
much interest; but mindful of her orders to get off if 
they did not want to be put off, ’Patkin urged them not 
to linger a moment, but to seek safety by getting off 
on to a side branch, if they could. 

So down they made their way, after only a moment 
of such watching; and coming very soon to a tender 
green branch that led away from this main one, they 
stepped off on to it just in time to avoid meeting Skurry 
at the head of a great column of her kinsfolk, all mount* 
249 


W onderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

ing to the pasture which they had just left. wonder 
if they’re really going to carry them down/’ said Betty, 
torn between the desire to see what was going to hap- 
pen, and desire to get once more on to the ground. 

‘'So do I wonder,” said Tatkin, “but Fm not in favor 
of wasting any time at watching ’em, just the same. 
We can’t afford to take chances with these treacherous 
Formicas, my dears. Let us get to the ground as fast 
as we possibly can; it’s a long distance, and a difficult 
road — and going down hill is often much harder than 
the going up.” 

That is what they found it ; for the footing was even 
more uncertain, and the look of the way was more terri- 
fying, somehow. Sometimes, indeed, they just had to 
stand still and wait a moment, quietly, to keep from 
getting so frightened that they would have fallen off 
anyway. And what a distance it was that they had to 
go! For the way led criss-cross, now over here and 
now over there — unless they went straight down, which 
they could not do, owing to its being so steep. 

Perhaps they were a third of the way to the earth, 
when along came another group of Formicas — a head- 
long, rushing group, that waited for nothing and 
wouldn’t give anything a chance to get out of their way. 
And just as they were almost up to them, pell mell from 
above came Helter and Skelter and Skurry and their 
250 


Through the Rainbow 

crowd — rushing even more headlong than the ones com- 
ing up. 

‘It’s come, it’s come,” cried Helter, ‘'that strangling 
storm! Run, run — everybody run! Get out of my 
way! Get out of our way! Run, run, runT 

All the rest were crying out the same things — “Run,” 
“Get out of my way,” “Run,” and so on. Goodness, what 
a commotion it was ; and what a useless thing it was for 
Betty and Billy and ’Patkin even to try to escape the 
onrush! Why the Formicas had chosen to come down 
by this round about and indirect way, no one will ever 
know. But chosen it they had, to the undoing of the 
three ; and what happened then was all intended to hap- 
pen, I have no doubt. 

It was all over in just no time, of course — though it 
seemed ages to the children and the dog. Racing down 
upon them came the crowd from above; and almost at 
the instant of their realizing their danger from them, 
something very queer filled the air — and Billy cried out, 
“Oh, we’re right in a rainbow!” 

Truly it seemed that they were. Over them and 
under them and almost through them, played the won- 
derful blues and scarlets and violets and yellows of the 
rainbow, dazzling their eyes, and adding, you will read- 
ily guess, to the confusion that was everywhere about 
them. And then something suddenly made them cough 

251 


Wonder days and Wonderway s Through Flowerland 

— and then made them sneeze; and then they suddenly 
found themselves stepping on a slippery place on the 
branch, and slipping — slipping — slipping! 

A sudden bump and thump marked the actual contact 
vrith Helter and Skelter and the rest, but whether they 
were falling also, Betty and Billy and Tatkin could not 
guess. They three clung to each other frantically — and 
away they went down, down — end over end! — upside 
down and down side up! — now this one on top, now 
another — plunging this way and that, and rolling over 
— now in midair, and now on a leaf, or what they pre- 
sumed was a leaf! Of course such a tumble makes it 
difficult to know what anything is, while it’s going on; 
but whenever they hit, it seemed to them it was a leaf 
that they hit against. 

Nothing stopped them, however. From leaf after 
leaf they slipped or bounded, and went on falling; but 
suddenly they fell into something, instead of upon or 
against it. And then they did stop short: and their 
tumble was interrupted — ^but oh, dear ! Not in an agree- 
able way! 

^'Bom — ^bom — ^bom — ^brrz — zrrr — zrrr — rum, bom — 
bom — bom!” rang in their ears from right beside them, 
‘What do you mean? Who are you, disturbing me? 
Get out of here, get out of here, get out of here,” it was 
252 


Through the Rainbow 

a very deep voice, ‘'bom — bom — bom — brrz — zrrr — 
zrum r’ 

A cloud of dust rose all around them, and they felt 
themselves thrown this way and that by some sort of 
queer, springy substance on which they seemed to have 
landed; and get on to their feet they could not, to save 
their lives. And all of the time they were trying, this 
deep voiced person was scolding and buzzing and bum- 
bling, in the most awful fashion imaginable — and the 
most threatening ! Through it all, though, Betty never 
let go of Tatkin’s collar, or of Billy’s hand; and so they 
did not get separated — which was one of the luckiest 
things in the world, as you will see, later. 

Sneezing and coughing, ’Patkin cried, “It’s pollen 
dust. That’s what this is ! What have we struck now, 
I’d like to know.” 

"Struck me — that’s what you’ve struck,” said the 
rumbling, though musical, voice, "struck me — or very 
nearly did. Take yourselves off, if you please. What 
do you mean, coming in here to disturb my rest? Get 
out, I say.” 

"Well, we’d be glad to get out,” cried Betty, in a 
very exasperated and breathless tone, "if we could. 
But we can’t do anything, here. Isn’t this dreadful? 
Oh, what in the world is going to happen next, I’d like 
to know.” 


253 


Wonderdays and W onderways Through Flowerland 

All over the place they struggled, trying to get on to 
their feet. But every time they made the effort, the 
reedy stuff in the midst of which they had landed, would 
throw them down again. So at last they gave up in 
despair, and sat still and looked at each other, between 
sneezes and coughs. And then they got to laughing — 
for they were sights ! 

Yellow pollen grains were in their hair and all over 
them — on the children’s faces, and powdering their 
clothes ; and in their eyes ; and all over Tatkin, so that 
when he wagged his tail or tried to, a golden cloud rose 
and set them to sneezing again. And they sat in the 
funniest positions imaginable, — for being determined to 
stick together, they had fallen just any way at all; and 
there they had finally stopped, breathless with their ef- 
forts. And right beside them sat the complaining one 
with the big voice — a creature that reminded them of 
the Princesses and lady Aea and all their tribe, and that 
yet was different from them, they saw at the first glance. 
For one thing, this personage was very much larger; and 
for another, it was much furrier, and its fur was longer. 
Really, here was some one almost as shaggy as Tatkin’s 
self. 

Just as Billy was about to speak to this individual, 
they heard a queer, rushing noise, and felt the queer 
something in the air once more; and again they seemed 

254 


Through the Rainbow 

to be in the midst of the rainbow; and away went this 
new acquaintance, taking wing suddenly and making a 
loud humming and bumbling as he went. And Billy ex- 
claimed, bumble-bee,’’ as he watched him out of sight. 

They looked around, and began to realize that it was a 
flower in the midst of which they had landed — a great, 
half double, wide open pink rose, into whose very heart 
they had tumbled. And of course Mr. Bumble-bee was 
tucked in there, asleep probably, when they came upon 
him so suddenly. No wonder he was cross about it! 

The petals of the flower they saw were glistening with 
something, — something that settled on them from 
the air more and more as they looked, and that settled 
upon themselves too, moist and cool. What could it be ? 
Certainly not rain, for the sun was shining. Yet every- 
where were glistening little globes of the moisture, like 
dew drops — only so small that a pin point would have 
been huge by comparison. They filled the air too, and 
reflected the rainbow colors, just as the soap bubbles 
which they so often had blown, did — and that was what 
made it seem that they were right in the midst of the 
rainbow. Might it be, indeed, that they were? And 
would they find a treasure — a pot of gold or something 
wonderful, maybe — if they were only down on the 
ground where they might dig? 

It has taken as much as a minute to tell about all of 
255 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerlfind 

this ; but it did not take anywhere near a minute for it 
all to happen, and for them to wonder all these things. 
While they were trying again to get to their feet, they 
thought them; and while they were still thinking them, 
they felt the cool moisture of the glistening mist, envel- 
oping them like fog — and then somehow they slipped off 
the flower as they had slipped from the branch — and 
again they were tumbling! 

But almost before they could realize that this was so, 
they came up standing — feet on the ground, and as sound 
as a dollar, each one of them, strung out in a row. And 
if you will believe it, there they were right beside a great 
bush of Killarney roses, and the bush was dripping 
from the soap-suds shower it had just received. And 
they were all three their very own natural size and 
selves ! 

They were quite out of breath, what with the tum- 
bling about and with surprise too; and they just stood 
and looked at each other and down at themselves, and 
gasped! At least they did this for a minute. Then 
suddenly ’Patkin broke away and went racing along the 
walk — and they looked to see where he was going. And 
there was the Lady ! But she did not see him, nor them 
— for she was walking away, toward the house. In just 
no time, though, he reached her. 

And “Woof, woof!” he cried; “oh, my dear and well 
256 


Through the Rainbow 

beloved Lady! Here am I come back! Tatkin has 
come back ! And see who I have brought ! Oh, Fm so 
glad and happy — and you will be so, too, I know. How 
I love you, and I love them, too ; and so will you, dear, 
lovely Lady mine !’’ 

She turned around quickly at the first sound of his 
voice; and Betty and Billy saw her open her arms and 
throw them around Tatkin and heard her cry out, “Oh, 
you darling dog! Where have you been? I thought 
you were gone, forever, blessed old Tatkin r 

She petted him every bit as much as he wanted, you 
may be sure of that. But it was quite a time before she 
understood that he was trying to explain something to 
her. Then she followed his look along the garden walk 
— and there she saw the figures of a little boy and a little 
girl, that she had never seen before. 

“Why, Tatkin,’" said she, coming toward them 
quickly, “is this what you’ve been trying to make me 
understand? Haven’t I been stupid? Who are they? 
Little friends, I know — ^but where did you find them, old 
fellow?” 

He brought her up to them, wagging his tail very 
proudly and going through all the motions he had made 
before, when introducing them. But it seemed to Betty 
that he talked more in his own peculiar language than 
he had done lately — though she still understood him. 
257 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

And the Lady, too, seemed to understand, for she came 
to them and knelt down beside them, and said ‘Why, my 
dears ! How glad I am to see you ! Has Tatkin been 
with you all this time?'’ 

‘‘Yes, ma’am,” answered Betty, “he has been with us 
quite a long time. And we love him very dearly.” 

“And where was that, my dears?” asked she. 
“Where in the world did you come from ?” 

They looked around, and then looked at each other; 
and then they looked at ’Patkin. “Tell her,” he barked, 
“tell her! You can always tell her, — anything'* 

“Why,” said Billy, frowning a little bit, uncertain of 
just where they had come from, “why, we came — ” 

“Out of the rose bush,” finished Betty, as he paused. 
But she too frowned, feeling that that was a very unsat- 
isfactory thing to say. So she took a long breath and 
was just about to go into explanations, when the Lady 
threw back her head and laughed delightedly, showing 
all her lovely teeth. 

“You darling children,” she cried, and gathered them 
both into her arms, “why, I believe that’s exactly where 
you did come from ! And so you must belong right here, 
in my garden ; don’t you ?” 

’Patkin barked joyfully at that; and they smiled a 
little bit shyly, into her tender eyes. 

“Well, we did come out of it,” said Betty, “but that 
258 


Through the Rainbow 

isn’t all. There’s a great deal more ; and some of it we 
don’t understand — ^but perhaps you will.” 

“Of course she will,” said ’Patkin, “but don’t bother 
your heads about that now. Just come along and let’s 
have something to eat. If you’re as hungry as I am — ” 

The Lady seemed to know what he was saying as 
well as he did himself; and she rose and took each of 
them by the hand, and turned toward the house. “Go 
ahead, Angelo,” she called to the gardener, as they came 
to where he was spraying another rose bush with soap- 
suds, “go over them all with it if you see a sign of an 
Aphid. They won’t need it again, though, this summer ; 
for it’s so late now that no new ones will hatch out. I’m 
sure. I am going in with my visitors.” 

And in they went and had a perfectly wonderful sup- 
per, with biscuits hot and feathery, just out of the oven; 
and honey; and milk; and cold chicken; and cake with 
nuts in it ; and delicious peaches and grapes, to nibble on 
when they could eat nothing more. 

“It’s not a scientific supper for little folks,” said the 
Lady, laughing, “but for once I’m going to fill you up as 
I like, and you like — and science must take a back seat.” 

She listened while they told her about the Orphanage ; 
and about their own dear mother ; and about father, who 
used to go away on ships, and wore a coat with lovely 
buttons on it, and gold lace things on the shoulders ; and 
259 


Wonderdays and Wonderways Through Flowerland 

about oh, ever so many things that they thought of, and 
wanted to tell her. 

And then she took them upstairs as it grew dusk 
and called the nicest elderly servant who reminded 
them a great deal of old nurse Ellen that sometimes 
came to help mother; only this one's name was Mary 
instead of Ellen; and between them they made ready 
the loveliest warm bath for Betty and then for Billy; 
and when they were bathed, from somewhere came 
small night garments that just fitted them; and they were 
tucked into the softest, sweetest beds. And then the 
Lady crooned a little song to them — and before they 
knew it they went to sleep. 

The Lady stood up at last and looked at them, first 
one and then the other — a long, long time. And tears 
were on her cheeks ; and she stooped and kissed each of 
them before she went away and left them. And for a 
long time she sat downstairs alone, thinking, and think- 
ing, and thinking. And then she suddenly went and 
called Mary, the nice, elderly servant; and said to her, 
^'Mary, I want you to come here and talk with me a 
little while. I have an idea." 

And when they had talked a long time, Mary said 
tremulously, ‘T think it's grand, indeed, ma'am! And 
nothin' that I know could make me any happier than 
260 


Through the Rainbow 

havin’ the darlin’s to take care of. It’s my own belief, 
ma’am, heaven has sent ’em to you — and made good old 
’Patkin the agent of doin’ so. Out of the rose bush, 
indeed — the blessed darlin’s ! That’s exactly where they 
did come from, I do believe — as sure as I’m livin’, 
ma’am.” 

So it came about that they did find a treasure even 
though it was only a soapsuds rainbow after all ; for they 
found a home! And the end of their great adventure 
was greater than any other part of it. And ’Patkin re- 
joiced all the days of his life that they had followed the 
Formicas to the pasture place, although it had been such 
a terrible trial. 

But that is just it, you see; you never can tell about 
trials until afterwards — and sometimes not until a 
long time afterwards. If they had not gone on this 
trip, for instance, and had not therefore been clam- 
bering around on the rose bush when the soap-suds 
shower descended upon it, they would never, perhaps, 
have come back to their own true size — for it must have 
been the soap bubbles that restored them, he was sure. 
And so they would never have come here to live with 
him and with his dear Lady. And if they had never 
come to live with him and his dear Lady, the great doc- 
tor would never have seen Billy and made him well — 
261 


Wonder days and W onderways Through Flowerland 

and so perhaps he would always have been lame, instead 
of having both his legs grow perfectly good and sound 
and true. 

But no more soap bubbles will Billy blow, although 
Alec wanted him to keep the old clay pipe, when finally 
he took it back to him. And when Angelo sprays for 
Aphids, Betty and Billy and Tatkin all three, stand at 
some distance away — not to run the risk of anything 
happening to them again. Some things seem like a 
dream, true enough, after they have happened and are 
all over and past; but after all, what is the difference 
between a dream and a reality — especially while you’re 
dreaming? 


THE END 


262 


GLOSSARY OF INSECT NAMES 


Agrotis ; agrotis species. A family of moths of which 
the young or larvae are generally called cutworms. 

Anopheles; anopheles species. The malarial mosquito. 

Aphid; aphis species. The plant lice generally, which 
are insects of the order Aphididce. 

Apis, ‘'the kingdom of’’; apis mellifera, the honey-bee. 

Bufo, “sir” ; hnfo americanus. The common native toad. 

Chlaenius; chlcenius cestivus. The preying ground bee- 
tle, which hunts at night the insects that attack 
plants. 

Culex; cnlex pipiens. The fresh water mosquito. 

Formica; formica species. The common ants, insects 
of the order Formicidce. 

Gryllus ; grylhis neglectus. The native cricket. 

Lacewings, the; chrysopa species. The lacewing flies, 
the young or larvae of which is one of man’s most 
valuable insect allies. 

Libellula, libellula species. The dragon flies, insects of 
the order Libelhdidce. 

Melanoplus, melanoplns femur-rubrum. The common 
native grasshopper. 

Musca, musca species. Flies of various kinds, gnats, 
etc. 

Photuris, photuris species. The fire-flies, the larvae of 
which are generally called glow-worms. 

263 


Glossary 

Psylla, psylla species. The jumping plant lice, leaf 
hoppers, etc. 

Terrapin scale, eulecanium nigrofasciatum. The most 
widely distributed of the scale insects, attacking 
trees of all kinds. 


264 


PLANT LISTS 


THE ANNUAL FLOWERS THAT ARE THE 
EASIEST TO GROW 


Common name 

Colors 

Botanical name 

Marigolds 

All shades of yellow 
and white 

Calendula 

Candytuft 

Rose, lavender and 
white 

Iberis umbellata 

Morning glory 
(a vine) 

Blue, rose, white 

Convolvulus, major 

Poppy 

Deep reds up to 
white 

Papaver 

Sweet peas 

All colors 

Lathyrus odoratus 

Nasturtiums 

All shades of yellow 

Nasturtium 

Youth and Old Age 

Scarlets, pinks, yel- 
low, white 

Zinnia 

Pansies 

All colors 

Viola 

THE PERENNIAL FLOWERS THAT ARE 

THE EASIEST TO GROW 

Columbines 

Scarlet, blue, white 

Aquilegia 

(Will grow in shade) 

Peach bells 

Blue 

Campanula persi- 

(Will grow in partial shade) 

cifolia 

Coreopsis 

Yellow 

Coreopsis 


265 



Plant Lists 


Larkspur 

Blue, light and dark 

Delphinium 

Pinks 

All shades of red 
and pink 

Dianthus plumarius 

Day lilies 

Yellow 

Hemerocallis 

Phlox 

Reds, pinks and 
white 

Phlox decussata 

Flag 

Blue, white 

Iris 


THE VEGETABLES THAT ARE THE EASIEST 
TO GROW 

Beans (climbing). 

“ Scarlet Runner ” has very pretty bright scarlet flowers. 

** Kentucky Wonder is the most productive, and always 
tender. 

Beans (bush). 

“ Stringless Green Pod ** ripens early and remains tender. 

“ Currie’s Rust-proof Wax ” is a tender wax variety. Wait 
until warm weather to sow in rows 2 feet apart, seeds 6 
inches apart. 

Beets. 

‘‘ Crosby’s Egyptian ” is an early and quick growing variety. 
Sow as early as ground is warm, i inch deep, in rows 16 
inches apart, seeds i inch apart. 

Carrots. 

“ Early Scarlet horn ” is a fine early variety. Sow in April 
or May in rows I foot apart and thin out till plants are 2 
inches apart. 

Corn. 

‘‘Golden Bantam” is a delicious variety. Sow in rows 3 
feet apart, after ground is well warmed, dropping seed every 
9 inches. 


266 


Plant Lists 


Dandelion. 

The common dandelion makes a delicious salad plant. Sow 
in rows i foot apart, and thin out till plants are lo inches 
apart in the rows. Put a flower pot over each plant to 
blanch it. 

Radishes. 

French Breakfast ” is a quick growing variety. Sow in 
rows I foot apart, dropping seed i inch apart in rows. Will 
mature a crop in six weeks, in light soil. Plant every two 
weeks all summer. 

Salsify. 

“ Mammoth Sandwich Island is good. Sow in rows early 
in spring 15 inches apart and i inch deep, seeds 3 inches 
apart. Leave in ground all winter, but dig before it starts 
to grow in spring. 

Tomatoes. 

"‘June Pink” is an early and long bearing variety. Sow 
seeds indoors, and transplant to garden in May or early 
June. Set the plants 5 feet apart each way, and train to 
poles. 


267 


■A^T 

t ■ ■ I 

■‘I 


i 


y*, '■•v ••*' > 


• VO''-iA ■■' 






' 4 



. / ^:n. i 




. > V. 



^ ‘c - V. ■ ■ n l • . ’ 


rf ttfi ' . ■ * MfH% tHW’ kifr I '' 'V-« 

B*;' !i|i!a.-«'ii.' ■'.' 


riWjt 


r'jv; !'■ ,^rAyryf^L.is:c/-J ry-h \ . 

:te •; 

*' ^^saaSk ' ■ •'.. c-v-’ •, • • V 




• ‘ ',« 




> ■ v>/ 







■tfr % wb ■<;/(^ ' >*• * > » ’/i.^ 1 


Vpj*' 

.'‘‘,-" 5.-1 

: 4 / 

. I* 


» # 

' • 




V-i'.' 



S«HVv4y*f> ..;'>‘ii\ 


;y'^>v.vV^ , 

I ' 



ii I 


«. r - » • k 


i' I 
< •' 


. .i:rv:..'Jj 


idt^A'ri wj'i ’■^AsiAr 




- ff . 









• * 





»■ • k 


;.f >?: ', •t : •'.'' 


«ll 


• « 




Vi 


i • 


• / 




>■:;" .1 


Vl 


■** 


K'iJ 


9 > 



-"V^' 

“ ■' .\ 


I 1 


•■-Sv 


i. 


' > 


‘ 'a ■ V 

•.. ' V'::^^ ‘ 1 ^ 


t . 


- 1 


I . 


• 4 







Y 




t . 


►V-- 


1 

. 

, 

h 

« 

• 

' . *.^ 

■■ . ■^ 

»» f 4 

■ V ' ' 

•s 

t 

J t 

1 

• 

^ 


J? ' * ^ 

• ^^ ' 

•” '■* J' ■ 

• 

'.* J. 

w • 

> 

A 

-* k* j ■ • 

A - . .r •• 

I 

V • < . 


■A 


4 \ 


>,- 






1 . 




. { 


'* * * • ’ .f* a 


r. 


» 





• ■■ -tF' 




^ I 


I'll 




. \ .,•# ^ ► 



/ V 


•> 


.t: 


V 




• V-'w- vii 










f - •- 




/ ‘ 



VW 


»-* 4 ' 


»v • 


'w' 'Mi '■ . 


\ 


• '*. 



- f 


• */ • 


^ • 


• ,* 'V . 


\ 


: 4 iv -* 


* .* A * » t 


a '■/'■•wb 



A y>j 


i I 




' f 



’’.a' ,■ 

r'rM*;' 



'V 












* • . ,•*•'. "'ff o'- •'.' 


•oy 





.f ' 


% » 



r‘A. 


..V:., MH : •' ; . > >i : " /'J- -..^'. 


4 .' 




, ^ V }p »i'^ ■ ii 

'■.lit'’ ;• ■'■•.. ‘•■f f 





' ,. . ■. -. M W) • %■ ' . lt'i-A^t-,- ,- i -' ■ •• ’^« 

3 fc:T -' 7 :■■. ■' 5 . ' 


■ ■'« 








•r V,' ‘ ’ f . 

' . .■ .‘ )•' • ' • V 

J ‘ ' * N 







IK . . • ^ : ■ .'Vy*a;->:^jRr^ 


•iS f 





t.' 


i;! 


1^' i^ 


I ' N >• 


♦ • ' 


f; 


I , 


iili 


1 


\l 



■ ■# n ■ ♦ 

j » • •- 


■, ■ ‘t ^ 

» I * 




k‘J iji^ ' ^ f. , ^ 



:r# 

- i'.' ' : ;' 5 ; *v 




W I 




. t 


i . 


' ..... 


% 


f. .“ . 


s<"^ 

'' 'y 


. ; Ik 


>?; 


••V 



:s . 


r» 


'■ - '■■’ - * -r'? 

* • A • * 'Ai ■ '^'l 


< » 


» .. ■- * A i ^ -/ ^ .•' J.- 

r ^ ‘ '• o '* rW . ,» 'i V 

'■ ^'V ''^®4 


‘M 


'h 


• f 4 '- . ' ». * . '■ . '"■ 

,. '-1/ • ■>= .ijt-r «-H v ■ . ' ’^ . :‘ . •' 

■ !? ■' ••-, ,' .,♦? '•■-'■^v • , ■> ' :> 


i;* 


111 


» :« 





*/’- 


r 




i 




'<s 






• y- 


'■ -S:' - 

■ ' f 2 t ,. ' 


vf1 



, / 





•>*4^ 

’ <*J /• '41 




i i. 


^•A 


111 


f 


.■'s'iijr'*. '' A 


v' • ■ ^' ; ,' •-<, *1 f ■' , ** . ' ^ •' 

I > f V- « ^ • * # • 4 1^ * **• .• * ‘ *\ * A 

*' ' I . i* • \ A* -U ' * i • - ^<d 

■- 4 * ^Mi’-'' 4 ‘»:' v<-. ■'A -*V' ■'■ 


:>"„7v^^ 0 ..Vi;:' 

./A ■ ;, ■ , . 


nmM- 




> 


% 




.'• > -» ‘ •'■ / 

V * ^ I * ' ' t * • ' • ' • 


*S' 




* J r^f 


^ k’ 







' ;w 

mm 




'•1 


. 4 *■ ' ■ •! 

- 'iy- ■ 




ll 




.. f iiBM attr^r 4. ^ •>'?'<? '•s- ft ‘ ‘ ‘^vv Wk 't v' •/ 

■' V »^4*. ^ ?.> ’ / hV rjS I ' 

.1# ■ ■ , -¥ . • • .^. 


'M. . •'. 


' ‘Y i 




>*; . 



i:. 



■ ■^. 


'.1 


.\aK 4 H 


& ■ 


IXi, .' *■£ '■■• '‘.•;);l . 

.VV; • '. 

"-’V 








lir'tl 


s, 





v,» 


t . % '-Y-:^ 


> ♦ . 


• -.. -yV 

^ - .i ' .y 


i' « V 



< . 


fc i '^x ■' ’’j. '* i* V“/ T 

' - •iiii'y. .’v- “•■ • 

.. • ; ;• -.K ■•■yjiiu'.MiJ 



■’ K 

I " * 1 



’ V -'.■■i 




’‘ijCikSMAif. !' f. 


i. 







